Dairy Cattle
Bos taurus
Domesticated cattle kept primarily for milk production. The backbone of Kenya's smallholder dairy sector, typically reared under zero-grazing, semi-zero-grazing, or open-grazing systems depending on land size and altitude.
Species
Bovine
Family
Bovidae
Climate requirements
Performs best in cool, high-altitude highland areas (1500-2500m) with temperatures of 15-25C and reliable rainfall of 900-1500mm/year for fodder production; exotic breeds are heat-sensitive and prone to reduced milk yield and heat stress in hot, humid lowland conditions without cooling/shade.
Husbandry guide
Zero-grazing units should provide at least 10-12sqm of covered floor space per cow with a separate feeding trough and clean water always available. Feed a balanced ration of Napier grass or other fodder plus dairy meal/concentrate matched to milk yield, with mineral/salt licks provided continuously. Milk twice daily at consistent times, practice strict udder hygiene (pre/post-dip) to prevent mastitis, and deworm and vaccinate (FMD, lumpy skin disease, anthrax per local schedule) on a routine calendar. Provide shade and ample clean drinking water (a lactating cow needs 60-100 litres/day).
Economic importance
The single largest livestock enterprise for smallholder Kenyan farmers, with over 1.8 million households keeping dairy cattle; milk sales provide a reliable, near-daily cash income and the sector supports an extensive value chain of cooperatives, processors (e.g. Brookside, New KCC) and input suppliers.
Breeds
Friesian (Holstein-Friesian)
Large black-and-white dairy breed, the most widely kept exotic dairy breed in Kenya; high feed and management requirements but the highest milk-yield potential of the common dairy breeds.
Average 15-25 litres/day under good zero-grazing management (up to 30+ litres/day for top herds); milk has relatively lower butterfat content (around 3.5-3.8%) than Ayrshire or Jersey.
Ayrshire
Reddish-brown and white, medium-sized and hardier than Friesian, with strong legs/udders suited to grazing systems and slightly better heat and disease tolerance.
Average 12-18 litres/day, with higher butterfat (around 3.9-4.2%) than Friesian, making it well suited to both drinking milk and processing.
Aberdeen Angus
Primary uses: Meat, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Belgian blue
Primary uses: Meat. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Boran
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Brown Swiss
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Charolais
Primary uses: Crossbreeding, Meat, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Dexter
FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Duruma
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Ethiopian Boran
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Friesian
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Not at risk.
Galloway
Primary uses: Meat. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Giriama
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Guernsey
Primary uses: Crossbreeding, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Not at risk.
Hereford
Primary uses: Meat, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Jersey
Primary uses: Meat, Milk. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Not at risk.
Jiddu
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Kamasia
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Kamasia - Samburu
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Kamba
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Karapokot
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Kenya Boran
Primary uses: Crossbreeding, Meat, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Not at risk.
Kikuyu
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Masai
Primary uses: Draught Power, Crossbreeding, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
NFD Boran
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Nandi
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Orma Boran
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Red Poll
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Sahiwal
Primary uses: Crossbreeding, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Not at risk.
Samburu
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Santa Gertrudis
Primary uses: Meat, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Simmental
Primary uses: Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Suk
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Teso
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Tuni
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Turkana
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Watende
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Winam
Primary uses: Draught Power, Crossbreeding, Meat, Milk, Savings/Security, Skins/Hides. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.