The executive course on Value Added Dairy Processing was conducted from 13th to 18th September, 2015 at the Centre of Excellence for Livestock Innovation and Business (CoELIB), Egerton University as a way of enabling participants appreciate the value of milk quality control. The course had a total of 8 participants.

Six presentations were made. These included; “Introduction to dairy industry” by Prof. Faraj. This presentation aimed at making the participants aware of the current dairy situation in Kenya. Dr. Muliro presented on “Overview of the dairy value chain” which covered on milk value chain, functions, milk chain operators, value chain service providers and the need for transformation of the dairy value chain.

“Milk and milk products quality” was presented by Dr. Muliro. The presentation covered milk composition and quality requirements, quality assurance of raw milk, quality control tests for raw milk and dairy legislation and standards. The presentation informed the participants on the milk attributes that the customers want, the essence of having good quality milk, the chemical composition of milk, the milk standard requirements and dairy legislation under the laws of Kenya.

Mr. Dunda presented “Fluid milk processing technology” which focused mainly on milk pasteurization and its objectives, and the various fluid products. Participants were taught on the activities involved in milk production from the farm to collection, transportation, processing into various products, storage and distribution. The different types of fluid milks were also covered. During this session, the participants conducted practicals on milk reception tests and familiarization of milk processing
equipment.

Dr. Muliro and Ms. Muigei presented “Fermented milk processing technology” which covered widely on starter cultures, yoghurt processing, cultured milk processing and cheese processing. Participants gained the knowledge on the different forms of starter culture, their source and their essence in milk. They were taught the process of yoghurt making, the importance of cheese, and the various types of cheese, cheese manufacturing steps and the common quality defects in fermented milks.

“Milk fat products technology” was presented by Dr. Omwamba which focused on cream products, butter and anhydrous milk fat (ghee). Participants were taught on cream separation, types of centrifugal cream separators, cream pasteurization, consumer cream products, butter production, butter making equipments, anhydrous milk fat production and direct and indirect methods of ghee manufacturing.

The training was hands on throughout whereby participants had a chance of making mala, fresh cheese, yoghurt, ghee evaluation and packaging of the different products they had made.

The Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture Education of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has instituted a programme on  synchronization of oestrus and artificial insemination (AI) for interested cattle farmers willing to acquire improved breed of cows with higher milk production potential, and for its own cattle. Friesian semen is being used for the AI after synchronization of oestrus (Plate 1) using Estrumate (Prostaglandin F2α), and heat detection (Plate 2). The programme is being carried out under the Edulink II project, in collaboration with the Amrahia Diary Farm of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The synchronization programme is meant to permit the use of AI through reducing time and labour required for heat detection in the absence of heat control. It reduces days to conception, shorter breeding and calving season thereby giving a more uniform and valuable calf crop. The intended purpose of the AI programme is to provide a uniform replacement stock of improved breed of higher milk production potential for smallholder farmers who are tired of being in long queue wishing to obtain Friesian-Local cattle crossbreds from Amrahia Dairy Farm of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

One-injection and two-injection protocols have been followed. Cows are expected to show signs of overt heat (oestrus—usually about 70% of cyclic cows) from first to fifth day after the injection of the Estrumate. Cows that do not exhibit signs of heat are then given a second chance where another injection (two-injection protocol) is administered at the eleventh or the fourteenth day to elicit oestrus in the next five days after the treatment for the AI.

The executive course on livestock feeds processing and feeding systems was conducted at the Centre of Excellence for Livestock Innovation and Business (CoELIB), Egerton University, Njoro campus from 26th April- 1st May, 2015. The course had a total of fifteen participants drawn from various Non Governmental Organisations, companies and farms from Eastern,western and southern regions of Kenya.

Eight presentations were made. These included, “Livestock feed industry in Kenya” by Dr. J.O Ondiek which aimed at introducing the participants to the current situation of livestock feed industry in Kenya. The presentation covered livestock feed and feeding systems in Kenya, challenges and opportunities. Dr. Ambula
presented “Introduction to digestive systems”. This presentation aimed at teaching the participants physiology of the cow and ruminants in general.

Dr. Onjoro presented “Classification of feeds and nutrient requirements” with the objective of teaching the various classes of feeds for the different types of livestock with different digestive systems. Nutrient content for the specific feeds was also taught. This presentation specifically covered feeds for ruminants (dairy, beef, goats and sheep), non-ruminants (poultry and pigs), pseudo- ruminant (rabbits and horses) and fish (carp, tilapia and catfish). “Quality control and certification” and “marketing and distribution” were all covered by the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA). The presentations gave the participants an overview of the state of feed processing in Kenya, the challenges that most people who have ventured into the industry face, how to maintain the quality of feed and the certification process of feed manufacturer.

“Raw materials: energy sources, animal protein sources and plant protein sources” was presented by Dr. Ambula. Nutrient content of raw materials, selection and source of raw materials, mycotoxins and salmonella in feeds, macro premixes and effective feed cost formulation were covered during the presentation. She also made a presentations on “Feeding systems: conventional and improved”, “home-made versus bought-in feeds” and “optimising production by manipulating feeding systems” and lastly “Ration formulation and costing” with the objective of teaching the participants the different ration formulas for the different types of feed. The different feeds covered include dairy meal, chick mash, growers mash, layers mash, broiler starter and finisher, sow and weaner, rabbit pellets and fish pellets.

Participants carried out practical’s on formulation of dairy meal, poultry feeds, sow and weaner meal, rabbit pellets and fish pellets. At the end of the course the participants were awarded certificates for successful completion of the course. The course enabled the participants to have a thorough understanding of the
technique used in evaluation of livestock feed and assessment of nutrient requirements of various classes of animals, ability to utilize quantitative data in the formulation of diets and feeding strategies for different classes of livestock.

With a total of eleven participants the executive course on Best Practices in dairy herd management was conducted from 5th-10th July, 2015 at the Centre of Excellence for Livestock Innovation and Business (CoELIB) as a way of enhancing their technical and managerial skills in dairy production.

Seven presentations were made. These included, “Introduction to dairy industry” by Dr. J.O. Ondiek. This presentation aimed at improving the participants know-how about the current situation of the dairy industry in Kenya. The presentation also covered aspects of Dairy production systems applicable in the tropics. Dr. T. Muasya presented  “Breeding and genetics for improved performance”. He taught the participants the different characteristics to look for in a dairy cow for efficient milk production, dairy cattle breeds for different production systems, sire catalogue and breeding for traits of economic importance. He also made a presentation on “Dairy cow management” which focused on the general management of a dairy cow, lactation curve, nutritional and feeding strategies for different physiological states lactation, mid lactation and late lactation), nutritional disorders, udder health, general health management and hygienic milk harvesting.

“Reproductive management” was presented by Mr. J. Malanda. The presentation aimed at teaching the participants how to achieve high fertility rates in their dairy herd, detection of reproductive disorders and what to do if such instances occured. Breeding calendar setting up a reproduction plan, heat detection and
service, reproductive examinations and reproductive disorders and health were also covered during the presentation.

Dr. M. Ambula presented “Calf management”, focusing mainly on how to handle dairy cow that is almost calving, after calving and the calf. The presentation covered cowmanagement before and at calving, feeding schedule of the calf, weaning management, calf housing, general management practices and calf health. She also made a presentation on “Heifer rearing” which focused mainly on feeding, breeding, steaming up, housing and health management.

Participants had an excursion both a large scale and small scale dairy farms within Nakuru County, Kenya. Certificates were awarded to participants for successfully attending the course. The course exposed the participants to the latest research on innovative practices and their application on breeding and reproductive management, calf and heifer replacement management, animal and udder health and milk management.

[showplus] Critical error: Image folder root/images/dairy-herd-management specified in the administration back-end does not exist or is inaccessible.