Mkulima today it’s a new age in the local dairy industry. Many clients have been sending messages requesting a list of the top dairy breeds that they should purchase for use in their dairy farm.

There are several breeds that work are very productive in Kenya.

I have written on the five best breeds not only for farmers who are just starting but also for the experienced farmers in the local dairy field.

Dairy is a term used to differentiate different types of cattle that are kept for meat and milk. A pure breed dairy cow is one whose ancestry traces back to the same breed that it belongs to.

A registered dairy cow, therefore, is one that is of the pure breed that has been registered with a particular breed association. You need to confirm this to be sure of your breed type.

Holstein/Fressian

This breed and the most common was the first breed in the northern parts of the Netherlands in the province of Friesland and northern Germany.

It has a large body frame (one of its main characteristics) and high milk yield.it has the ability to produce 20-25Liters of milk per day with a butterfat content of 3.5%.

Though large in size this breed is docile and a single can way up to 613 kilograms when fully matured.

The skin color patterns vary in proportions of white and black. There can be red and white animals occasionally that are offspring of black and white parents that carry the recessive gene.

Jersey

Jersey breed was developed in the largest Chanel islands of Jersey. Unlike their species, they are very nervous and have a quick reaction trait to both good and bad temperaments.

The skin includes various shades of fawn. White markings can be spotted but not always.

They carry horns that are inclined forward, that curve slightly at the base, and small in size, they are of medium length and tapered towards the tips.

Their heifers develop rapidly as compared to all the other breeds.

They are good milk producers. The average daily production rate is between 15-20liters per day with a butterfat content of 4.5% and rich in color.

If your farm is located in an area with high ambient temperatures you should own Jersey as they outperform the Fressian in such a location.

The average live weight of the jersey is 386killiograms.

 

Guernsey

Guernsey originated from channel islands close to the north coast of France. Their skins have shades of fawn with clearly defined white markings with a yellowish pigment.

They carry horns that are inclined forward, refined with a medium length, and tapers towards the tips. The horn s are also characterized by their small size and yellowish color at the base.

This breed if it were human it would have been a good soldier. They are always alert but not easily excited.

Their milk production is an average of 16liters per day. The milk is characterized by a yellowish color.

The live weight of the animal is 459kiligrams yellowish in color with white markings. The white markings can also be found on the animal’s nose area.

Ayrshire

This breed was developed in Ayrn southwest Scotland that explains its name. The region where this breed was developed is highly hilly, the animal can survive in rugged terrain as the one it was carved out of.

The breed is characterized by the red and white colors that it carries on the skin. It has symmetrically shaped udders and a smooth body.

The red is different as compared to the other breeds as it is more of a shade of cherry red and mahogany red. You can easily tell the difference between the two colors as there is a clear distinction.

It carries longhorns that are spread and curved at the tip ends. These animals need a lot of alone time as they are very nervous and not easy to manage when spooked.

You should also pay closer attention to them since it is a challenge to keep their body conditions in shape if poorly managed.

The animal has a lot of node fat and the total live weight can be up to 477 kilograms. The daily milk production is an average of 20 liters per day.

Dairy short harn

This is an English breed with a total live weight of 546 kilograms.it is characterized by red and white colors on the skin though it can be more commonly also found in a red or deep roan coating.

It has a small head with a neck that tins as it gets closer to the head and rapidly thickens towards the shoulders.

They carry blunt short creamy horns. They don’t have black tips and curve as the animal ages.

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