Most Kenyan dairy farmers can lift yield without buying another cow. The gains sit in feeding consistency, forage quality and water access.
How much dairy meal to feed
- Feed 4–8 kg of Mkombozi Dairy Meal per lactating cow per day, depending on yield.
- A practical rule: 1 kg of dairy meal for every 2–2.5 litres of milk produced above maintenance.
- Split the ration into two servings, morning and evening, at milking time.
Concentrate is not a replacement for forage
Dairy meal supplements good forage; it cannot replace it. Aim for napier, silage or quality hay as the base of the diet, with the concentrate closing the protein and energy gap.
Water is the cheapest input
Milk is roughly 87% water. A lactating cow needs 60–100 litres of clean water daily. Restricted water is the most common — and most fixable — cause of a sudden yield drop.
Change feed gradually
When switching feed, transition over 7–10 days by mixing increasing proportions of the new ration. Sudden changes upset rumen function and cost you litres.
Common questions
How much dairy meal should a cow eat per day?
Between 4 and 8 kg per day for a lactating cow, split into two feeds. Higher-yielding cows sit at the top of that range, always alongside quality forage and free access to clean water.
Can dairy meal be fed to in-calf heifers?
Yes, in reduced quantities during the steaming-up period in the last 6–8 weeks before calving, to support the calf and prepare the cow for lactation.
