Low Milk Production

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Low milk production in dairy cows—whether in Kenya or elsewhere—is usually not due to one single cause. It’s almost always a combination of nutrition, management, health, and environment. In Kenya specifically, a few factors tend to stand out:

1. Poor nutrition (the biggest factor)

Many smallholder farmers rely heavily on natural pasture or crop residues, which are often low in nutrients. Dairy cows need a balanced diet with enough:

• Energy (from feeds like maize germ, silage)
• Protein (e.g., dairy meal, legumes like lucerne)
• Minerals and vitamins

When cows don’t get enough quality feed—especially during dry seasons—milk production drops quickly.

2. Seasonal feed shortages

Kenya’s climate has distinct wet and dry seasons. During dry periods:

• Pasture becomes scarce and poor quality
• Farmers may not have stored feeds like silage or hay
  This leads to underfeeding and reduced milk yields.

3. Poor genetics

Some farmers keep local or low-producing breeds instead of improved dairy breeds like:

• Holstein Friesian
• Ayrshire
  
• Jersey
• Fliechview & their crosses.
  Crossbreeds can do well, but if breeding isn’t well managed, productivity declines over generations.

4. Diseases and parasites

Common health issues reduce milk production, such as:

• Mastitis (very common and directly lowers milk output)
• Tick-borne diseases 
  
• Internal parasites (worms) and ticks

Sick cows eat less and divert energy away from milk production.

5. Poor breeding and reproduction management

• Long gaps between calving (calving interval too long)
• Failure to detect heat or poor timing of insemination
• Failure to come to heat
• Repeat breeding

Cows produce the most milk after calving, so fewer calvings = less milk over time.

6. Inadequate water supply

Milk is mostly water. A dairy cow may need 50–100 liters of clean water daily. Limited or dirty water reduces intake and milk yield.

7. Poor housing and stress

• Overcrowded or dirty sheds
• Heat stress (especially in lowland areas)
• Lack of proper resting areas

Stress lowers feed intake and milk production.

8. Milking practices

• Inconsistent milking times
• Poor hygiene
• Incomplete milking

These can reduce yield and increase risk of mastitis.