Sustainable dairy intensification in Kenya: Typologies of production systems and breeding practices

Increased production of smallholder dairy systems is needed to meet increasing demand for animal source protein. Adoption of innovations depends on farming systems characteristics. We defined three typologies based on interviews and discussions with stakeholders (farmers, input suppliers, service providers and dairy experts). The peri-urban system (PUS) is located in peri-urban regions and is a high input high outputsystem, using 5.0±2.5 kg of concentrates/herd/day (/h/d) to produce 26.5±23.4 kg of milk/h/d. The rural commercial system (RCS) is located in rural regions and is a medium input medium output-system, using 2.9±1.4 kg of concentrates/h/d to produce 20.2±21.0 kg of milk/h/d. The rural subsistence system (RSS) is located in rural regions and is a low input low output-system, using 2.4±2.9 kg of concentrates/h/d to produce 15.5±7.7 kg of milk/h/d. Production strategies and marketing differed among system: PUS-farmers kept 4.9±1.6 tropical livestock units (TLU) of exotic cattle, used artificial insemination (AI) with local and imported semen, fed on Napier grass and stover and sold 19.4±16.6 kg of milk/h/d to consumers at a price of 0.45±0.04 $/kg for cash income; RCS-farmers kept 7.1±4.5 TLU of exotic-zebu crosses upgraded using AI with local semen, grazed their cows on open fields and sold 14.9±13.4 kg of milk/h/d to middlemen at a price of 0.32±0.08 $/kg for cash to support crop production; RSS-farmers kept 7.0±8.3 TLU of zebu crosses upgraded using unproven exotic crossbred bull mating, grazed their cows on paddocks, sold 9.9±6.1 kg of milk/h/d to middlemen at 0.31±0.04 $/kg and dairy played subsistence and cultural roles. Breeding practices were suited to production strategies determined by resources, household priorities and market situation. Dairy productivity increase through AI with semen of superior breeds may not be suitable in rural systems with poor-functioning markets.