Associations between intensification interventions and herd productivity in smallholder dairy farms in the Kenyan Highlands

Abstract

Smallholder dairy farms intensify their milk production through genetics, ecological and
socioeconomic interventions to attain increased milk production for food and income
security, but viability of the interventions may be an impediment towards sustainability.
This study established the association between intensification interventions and herd
productivity for a random sample of 140 smallholder dairy farms benefitting from Kenya
Market led Dairy Program (KMDP) in Kiambu and Meru Counties in Kenya. Data
obtained in cross sectional survey were processed in excel spreadsheet for descriptive
statistics, Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and regression modelling to derive
optimal predictive models for describing association of intensification intervention
and herd productivity indicators. All the indicators showed large variations between
farms in intensification interventions and herd productivity. From the indicators, PCA
extracted two principle components (PC) of which positive associations were realized
between indicators of intensification interventions and herd productivity. Socioeconomic
interventions (R2 = 45%) respectively as compared to genetic (insemination costs-6.7% and 3.7%)
and ecological (manure recycling-0%  2.4%). Sensitivity analysis with the optimal
predictive model showed that a ten percent increase in concentrate fed would increase milk
yield by 0.13% but reduce the margins earned by 0.09% per liter of milk. Spending more
on insemination, however, would marginally reduce yield and margins while ten percent
more milk sales would increase margins by 9.16%. Overall, socio-economic intervention
contributed more towards positive externalities in herd productivity. As such use of dairy
inputs especially concentrates is necessary to enable farmers attain profitable returns and
assure economic sustainability of dairy farming.