Principal Secretary in the State Department for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke has revealed that the government plans to import buffaloes for milk production as part of efforts to assess their suitability for dairy farming in Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Mueke said the animals are more resilient than ordinary dairy cows and can survive harsh conditions while converting feed into milk more efficiently.
“These buffaloes are a little harder than your normal dairy cow. They will be able to survive in harsh conditions. Its feed conversion is a little better than a normal dairy cow; inakula kidogo na inazalisha maziwa mengi,” Mueke said.
The PS explained that the government will initially import the animals for research purposes and keep them on government farms, particularly those operated by its livestock genetics organisation.
According to Mueke, the initial phase will help experts understand the animals’ husbandry requirements, feeding patterns and general management before the government considers introducing them to private farmers.
“For research purposes, we will import as government first for our government farms, especially our genetics organisation, so that we can understand the animal husbandry around it and its feeding patterns before we import it for private farmers,” he added.
The proposed initiative could introduce a new dimension to Kenya’s dairy industry, with the government seeking to establish whether buffaloes can offer farmers a viable alternative to conventional dairy cattle.
The plan is also expected to provide experts with an opportunity to assess the animals’ productivity and adaptability to local conditions before any wider rollout.
