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Brookside Dairy has provided semen straws to over 2,000 farmers from Gatundu North and South constituencies in Kiambu County in a bid to increase milk production.

In partnership with its semen suppliers, the dairy processor is distributing the straws to its contracted milk supply groups in various parts of the country with an aim of improving calving rates and ultimately raising its yields.

The firm’s manager in charge of milk procurement and extension services Emannuel Kabaki said the genetic material is of reputable genomics as it is drawn from the company’s local bull stations and is expected to improve the farmers’ breeds to ensure their daily milk production doubles.

He noted that the farmers have already received adequate training on breeding which is key in boosting their farming. Kabaki was speaking while distributing the semen straws and liquid nitrogen for conservation to Gatundu United Dairy Cooperative Society farmers in Gatundu town.

“As a company we have been training farmers for the last decade on animal husbandry and today we are furthering our commitment to boost farmers income by providing them with superior breeds with special genetics for increased milk production. Today we are piloting the project in Gatundu but we hope to spread its wings across the country,” he said.

Kabaki noted that the firm has hired 12 extension service officers who have been tasked to assist and train farmers on better farming practices to ensure they boost their production with a guarantee of generating high proceeds from their farming.

In Kiambu County, he said, Brookside seeks to double milk collection from 100,000 litres of milk per day to over 200,000 litres a day, saying farmers in the region have a capacity to earn and support their livelihoods from milk production alone.

The farmers led by Dairy Cooperative Society Chairman John Njau lauded the initiative, saying the semen straws will double milk production in the region.