Coun Co untr try y pr proje oject ct: : KE9 KE92 Host: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Volun Volunte teer er Name Name: : Kar Karen en Ja Jaco cobs bsen en Cou Count ntry ry: : Ken Kenya ya Coun Co untr try y pr proje oject ct: : KE9 KE92 Host: Hos t: Lessos Lessos Fa Farme rmers rs Coo Coope pera rative tive Ven Venue ue: : Nan Nandi di Cou Count nty Au Audie dienc nce: e: Da Dairy f iry far arme mer r me memb mber ers Numb Number er of peo of people ple : : 20 208+ 8+ Date: Dat e: Nov Novemb ember er 27 27 – Dec Decemb ember er 18 18

Dr Karen Jacobsen Lessos Coooperative

1. Assign 1. Assignment Objectives ment Objectives as in SOW as in SOW • To improve dairy management skills through sensitizing the farmers on dairy cow management, milk production process/lactation cycle, dairy nutrition, disease prevention, and the use of simple dairy cattle feed rations • Provide recommendation to Lessos on dairy nutrition and basic health care practices

Training Farmers on Nutrition

Showing Pictures of US Dairy Farms

Traing Smallholder Farmers

2. Achievement of the assignment objectives • Instruction in the benefits and methods of rotational (“strip”) grazing of Kikuyu grass in paddocks owned by the farmers • Instruction in estimating cow weight by measuring chest girth • Instruction in estimation of needed Dry Matter Intake for cows of various weights and milk production

Teaching about The Lactation Curve

Weigh Taping Cows at Field Day

Weigh Tapes on Counter at Coop -Farmers bring in a string marked with Chest Girth of their cow - Read the body weight in kg on the tape

Hand chopping forage

2. Achievement of the assignment objectives • Instruction in the amount of drinking water needed by milking cows • Development of a Simple Hand Ration Balancing Guide for use by the Cooperative Extension Staff

Conserved Feeds at one Progressive Farm

3. Reco 3. Recommen mmenda dation tions s to to th the ho e host st with with re rega gard rds s to to the the as assign signmen ment • Cooperative should print the Practical Hand Ration Balancing handout provided by Dr Karen Jacobsen for all Community Facilitators, CAVEs, and interested farmers. • Train field personnel and community facilitators on estimating body weight, dry matter intakes, liters of drinking water, and rotational (“strip”) grazing.

Maize Silage made by only 6% of Farmers

4. Anticipat 4. Anticipated ed Impact Impact Improved understanding of dairy nutrition will: • Improve grass yields and profitabililty of farmers through the use of rotational grazing • Increase milk production due to increased drinking water availability • Increase milk yield and profitability through better dairy rations.

Measuring Dry Matter of Maize Silage Vortex Hair Dryer Method to Digital scale donated Dry Wet Feeds by Dr Karen Jacobsen

5. Reco 5. Recommen mmende ded d futu future re vo volunt luntee eer r Ass Assista istanc nce e #1 #1 • A volunteer to help the LFCSL locate economical and high quality feed ingredients and byproducts to make Dairy Meal, and to train the trainers in the use of the NRC Dairy Ration Balancing program.

5. Reco 5. Recommen mmende ded d futu future re vo volunt luntee eer r Ass Assista istanc nce e #2 #2 • A volunteer to help LFCSL improve milk quality via lower bacteria counts and lower somatic cell counts of the milk, and to help negotiate a higher price for the milk for both the cooperative and the farmers.

6. 6. Recomm Recommenda endations tions to other to other non non-host s host stakeholders takeholders If economical byproduct feeds and feed ingredients can be located, the dairy farmers and the cooperative could make their own Dairy Meals. One possibility might be a Regional Feed Mill for multiple cooperatives.

Action plan for host recommendations 1-3 Recommendation Specific Action Responsible person By when 1.Assist farmers in determining how much their Coop distribute string, have Community Facilitators, cow weighs in kg, & use this owners measure chest girth, bring CAVEs, Lessos coop to dose de-wormers, decide string to coop, read weight in kg extension staff when to first breed, and how from chart I taped to the counter much to feed Either multiply by 2% for heifers 2. Assist farmers in and dry cows & 3% for milking Community Facilitators, determining how much dry cows or Use chart provided to CAVEs, Lessos coop matter feed their cows need coop to look up body weight and extension staff: per day. milk production and determine dry matter to feed 3. Assist farmers in Use the handout I provided to the determining what to feed their staff for a very basic method to cows, especially during the dry formulate dairy rations by hand. Lessos coop extension staff: season, beginning now, when Start with 50% Fodder there is no grass to feed the (Roughage) and 50% Grain or cows. Byproduct

Action plan for host recommendations 4-5 Recommendation Specific Action Responsible person By when Measure using the scale I provided purchase a microwave 4. Assist farmers to determine for the coop to use, and follow Lessos coop extension manager & staff % Dry Matter of their feeds the procedure on my website: www.KarenJacobsen.net Use conversion factors: 5. Assist farmers in X 5 for 20%DM grasses determining how much to feed Lessos coop extension staff X 3 for 33%DM maize silage As Fed to their cows X 1.1 for 90%DM dry feeds

Action plan for host recommendation 6 Recommendation Specific Action Responsible person By when Encourage farmers to either divide their Kikuyu paddocks or tether and move the cows frequently. At the conclusion of the upcoming dry season, farmers 6. Assist farmers with starting need to wait to put the cows on to use Management Intensive At the end of the upcoming the grass until it is almost at their Community Facilitators, Rotational Grazing (“Strip dry season (in the next 2 knee level, then put cows on the CAVEs Grazing”) for Kikuyu Grass months) paddocks only a few hours a day management first to prevent bloat. After 4-5 days, the cows can be left on the paddock all the time. Move cows to the next paddock when the grass is just above their ankle.

Healthy Kikuyu Grass!

7. How 7. How can can CRS CRS improv improve e futur future e vo volunt luntee eer r ex expe perien rience ce Share detailed reports of all previous volunteers CRS did an excellent job!

5. Reco 5. Recommen mmende ded d futu future re vo volunt luntee eer r Ass Assista istanc nce e #1 #1 • A volunteer to help the LFCSL locate economical and high quality feed ingredients and byproducts to make Dairy Meal, and to train the trainers in the use of the NRC Dairy Ration Balancing program.

Thank You!