Geography Form 3 Notes : Agriculture 2 – LIVESTOCK FARMING

LIVESTOCK FARMING

Rearing of domestic animals including poultry.

a) Traditional/Pastoral/Subsistence Livestock Farming

Rearing of animals on natural pasture involving seasonal migration in search of water and pasture.

Main Areas

• North and North East Kenya e.g. Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Kajiado, Narok, etc.
• Communities: Maasai, Somali, Borana, Rendile, etc.

Factors Influencing Nomadic Pastoralism

• Grazing areas are free from animal pests, especially tsetse flies, due to being dry and hot.
• Savannah grassland and semi-desert conditions cause grass to sprout during rains and dry during the hot dry season.
• Availability of grass most times of the year in the bush and wooded savannah.
• Gentle or relatively flat terrain makes it easy for the movement of animals from one place to another.
• Sparse population in the North and North East regions due to harsh climatic conditions encourages nomadic pastoralism because each community can occupy large tracts of land.
• Desert and semi-desert conditions do not favour agriculture, making livestock rearing a way of earning a livelihood.
• Tradition of the people whereby animals are a sign of wealth, used for paying dowry, and slaughtered for festivals.

Characteristics of Pastoral Farming

• They keep large numbers of animals as insurance against natural deaths.
• They practice uncontrolled breeding, resulting in large herds.
• Many kinds of animals are kept, e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, and camels.
• Animals are reared for subsistence, not for commercial purposes.
• They keep indigenous cattle which are hardy, such as Zebu and Boran.
• Animals are of poor quality due to lack of quality feeds and weakening by diseases, making them of low value.
• Animals are a sign of wealth and are reared for paying dowry and slaughter during cultural festivals.
• There is seasonal movement, spending the dry season in one place and the wet season in another.
• Disease incidences of both livestock and humans are common due to tropical conditions.

Products

• Milk, blood, meat, and skin for shields, sheaths, and clothing.

Problems

• Shortage of water and pasture due to long dry spells, making animals of poor quality.
• Pests such as ticks and fleas weaken animals; diseases such as East Coast fever, foot and mouth, and anthrax cause heavy losses of stock.
• Overstocking causes overgrazing, leading to severe erosion, poor pastures, and poor quality animals which fetch low prices.
• Lack of extension and veterinary services due to insecurity and constant movement hinders improvement of animals reared.
• Low levels of education and culture lead to keeping animals for wealth and prestige, causing overstocking and severe erosion.
• Poor pastures result from poor soils, with most areas consisting of tuft grasses and bare land.
• Cattle rustling causes loss of life and destruction of property.
• Inaccessibility of pastoral areas due to poor roads makes it difficult for farmers to get their animals to the market.
• They rear indigenous cattle such as Zebu and Boran, which mature slowly, yield little milk, and have poor quality beef.
• Exploitation by middlemen due to lack of market information.
• Small local market due to sparse population.
• Competition from national parks leads to conflicts.

Improvements in Pastoral Areas (Measures Taken By the Government to Improve Pastoral Farming)

1. Encouraging pastoralists through the Ministry of Livestock to start ranching to improve the quality of their animals.
2. Improvement of water supply in drier areas by sinking boreholes, wells, and constructing dams.
3. Establishment of demonstration ranches to sensitize pastoralists on better methods of animal husbandry.
4. Construction of cattle dips and setting up animal pest and disease organizations to control pests and diseases.
5. Providing extension services to advise pastoralists and offer drug treatment to animals.
6. Teaching pastoralists through formal education about the advantages of keeping manageable herd sizes.
7. Encouraging them to keep smaller numbers of animals to solve the problem of quality.
8. Ploughing and reseeding pasture with more nourishing drought-resistant grass.
9. Purchasing pedigree animals and crossbreeding with indigenous animals, resulting in hybrid stock that resists many tropical diseases, produces more milk, and better quality meat.

b) Commercial Livestock Farming

i) Dairy Farming

Keeping cattle for milk production.

Characteristics

• Dairy cattle are reared.
• Usually practiced in areas with a good economy, i.e., developed infrastructure for quick transportation of milk and a ready market because dairy products are perishable.
• Employment of modern technology for processing and packaging because milk is perishable and should be processed shortly after milking.
• High milk-yielding cows are reared, e.g., Friesian, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sahiwal.

Kenya

• The main breeds are Friesian and Ayrshire and crossbreeds between indigenous and exotic breeds.
• Farmers use artificial insemination (AI) administered by veterinary extension officers or bulls directly to sire calves and keep the herd ‘in milk’.
• In the past, the government provided these services, but they have been privatized, making them inaccessible to many Kenyans.

Types of Dairy Farming

a) Lowland Dairy Farming

• Keeping traditional cattle for consumption by family members.

b) Highland Commercial Dairy Farming

Practiced in the Kenyan highlands in the following dairying areas:

Rift Valley

• Kericho, Bomet, Nakuru, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu, which are the leading dairying areas.

Characteristics

• Large-scale farms.
• Milking is mechanized.
• Fed on fodder and grass.

Central

• All districts.
• Small farms.
• Ranches exist in Makuyu, Murang’a.
• Intensive farming.
• Zero grazing and fodder feeding practiced.

Western

• Kakamega, Vihiga, and Bungoma.
• Small-scale dairying.
• Open grazing is common.

Eastern

• Meru, upper Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kangundo, Machakos, Mbooni Hills, and Makueni.
• Large-scale dairying in Timau and Kibirichia in Meru.
• Small-scale in higher altitudes.
• Open grazing common.
• Minimal zero grazing.

Nyanza

• Kisii, Nyamira, Oyani, and Suna in higher parts of Migori.
• Dominated by small-scale dairying.
• Zero grazing in some parts of Nyamira and Kisii districts.

Conditions Favouring Dairy Farming

Kenya Highlands

Physical

• The region experiences low temperatures ideal for survival of exotic breeds (averaging 18°C).
• The areas receive high and well-distributed rainfall, ensuring abundant supply of natural pasture and water from permanent rivers.
• Fertile volcanic soils ensure quality nutritious grass cover.

Human

• Well-established infrastructure, e.g., roads, ensures quick transportation of milk to processing plants.
• High population offers a ready market for dairy products.
• Availability of processing and storage facilities near dairy farms to transform milk into less perishable products has increased milk production.
• Provision of veterinary services and demonstration farms by the government promotes rearing of high-quality dairy breeds.

Denmark

• A small country in Western Europe.
• The greatest exporter of dairy products.

Physical Factors

1. Low-lying, relatively flat land ideal for dairy farming.
2. Cool to warm temperatures (0.4–16.6°C) facilitate growth of natural pasture.
3. Soils derived from boulder clay, enriched with animal manure and fertilizer, are good for growing fodder crops.
4. Availability of a variety of fodder crops, manufactured feeds, and supplements leads to high milk production.

Human Factors

Mechanisation of most dairy farms, e.g., machines for milking, is widely used.

Big market for dairy products locally and in other European countries due to high purchasing power.

Availability of adequate capital and modern technology has improved production and storage of dairy products.

Extensive use of artificial insemination improves the quality of breeds, making dairy farming successful.

Rapid growth of co-operative movements, which are very competitive, causes farmers to strive for high-quality products.

Organisation of Dairy Farming

Kenya

• The main breeds kept are Friesian and Ayrshire and crossbreeds between indigenous and exotic breeds.
• Carried out for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
• Farmers depend on fodder and natural grass.
• Cooperatives provide processing, marketing, and credit services to farmers.
• Dairy farming is less mechanised.
• Few farmers have access to AI services since their privatisation.

Denmark

Dairy farming is carried out by individual farmers on a large scale.

It is carried out for commercial purposes.

The breeds reared are Danish Holstein (traditional cow), Friesian (75%), Ayrshire, and Channel Island cows.

Livestock are kept indoors for between 4–5 months during winter.

Farmers mainly depend on fodder rather than natural grass because temperatures are cold most of the year.

Thousands of co-operatives provide processing, credit, advisory, and research services.

Dairy farming is highly mechanised with machines such as combined harvesters, lorries, ploughs, and seed drills provided by co-operatives.

Processing of Milk

• Pasteurisation – Heating liquid milk to 75°C for about 15 minutes.
• Sterilisation – Heating to 100°C for a short time to kill bacteria that survive pasteurisation.
• Homogenising – Breaking and distributing fat particles throughout the milk to prevent cream from forming on top.
• Ultra heat treatment – Heating milk beyond 100°C.
• Further processing into products such as butter, ghee, or cheese.
• Products are packed ready for distribution to consumers.

Marketing

Kenya

• Marketing is done by KCC and the Dairy Board of Kenya.
• Farmers may take milk to KCC themselves.
• Local co-operatives collect milk from farmers at various collection points and take it to KCC.
• After processing, products are sent to KCC depots for distribution to consumers.
• Some products are exported to neighbouring countries such as Uganda.
• Other processors also market their milk locally and internationally.

Denmark

• Marketing is done by co-operatives.
• Products are sold locally and abroad, with major destinations being EU countries such as Germany, UK, Sweden, etc.
• The government monitors quality using inspectors who endorse quality by Lurmark.
• Agricultural Marketing Board and Danish Dairy Board promote exports through international trade fairs and surveys.
• New markets are being explored in Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

Problems Facing Dairy Farming in Kenya

1. Small-scale dairy farms face stiff competition from other cash crops like tea, coffee, vegetables, and passion fruits.
2. High cost of inputs has minimized mechanisation and resulted in low profit margins.
3. Impassable roads during the rainy season make milk delivery difficult.
4. Excessive droughts result in inadequate feeds, causing temporary milk shortages.
5. Risk of cattle pests and diseases restricts dairy farming to Kenyan highlands.
6. Poor management of co-operatives at grassroots results in delayed payments, which lowers farmers’ morale.
7. Shortage of proper storage facilities at collection centres, such as cooling plants, causes milk to spoil before reaching processing factories.
8. Privatisation of AI services makes them expensive and inaccessible to many small-scale farmers, resulting in low-quality breeds and low milk production.
9. Lack of training, especially for small-scale farmers.

Improvements (How the Government Is Laying Emphasis on Dairy Farming)

• Appointing supervisory boards for dairy co-operatives.
• Extending credit facilities to farmers through co-operatives.
• Holding agricultural shows to educate farmers on good dairy farm management.
• Setting up demonstration farms that breed high-quality bulls to be released to farmers.
• Establishing well-maintained roads for milk delivery.
• Carrying out extensive research on possible solutions to diseases.

Denmark

Rare incidents of diseases such as mastitis and Salmonella Dublin.

It is expensive to run farms in winter when animals are kept indoors and fed on fodder.

Dairy animals emit considerable amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Reduced market share due to competition from other dairy-producing countries and restrictions.

Occasional drought spells cause considerable drops in milk production.

Role of Dairy Farming in the Economies

1. Earns Kenya foreign exchange by exporting milk and dairy products.
2. Saves some foreign exchange.
3. The government earns revenue through taxation from the sale of dairy products, funding various development projects.
4. Provides employment in dairy farms, milk processing plants, and dairy-related industries.
5. Gives farmers an income that alleviates poverty and raises living standards.
6. Promotes development of industries such as milk processing plants and input manufacturing industries, creating more employment and raising per capita income.
7. Promotes good health and nutrition by providing proteins, fats, and vitamins essential for human growth and development.
8. Leads to infrastructure improvement in Kenya by government upgrading roads to ease milk delivery.

Comparison

Similarities

• Dairy farmers in both countries sell their products to co-operatives.
• Both countries experience similar problems of adverse weather changes and diseases.
• Animals kept are similar, e.g., Friesian, Ayrshire, Jersey, etc.
• Milk processing and dairy products are similar, e.g., liquid milk, cheese, and butter.
• In both countries, milk is consumed locally and exported.
• Both countries keep traditional and exotic breeds.
• Open and zero grazing are practiced in both countries.

Differences

• Dairy farming in Kenya is carried outdoors most of the year, while in Denmark animals are kept indoors for about 6 months in winter.
• Dairy farming depends mainly on grass in Kenya, while in Denmark it mostly depends on fodder.
• Dairy farming in Denmark is evenly distributed, while in Kenya it is restricted to highlands.
• Dairy farming is heavily mechanised in Denmark, while mechanisation is lacking in many farms in Kenya.
• Dairy farming is a major foreign exchange earner in Denmark, while in Kenya most dairy products are consumed locally.
• Denmark achieves high yields throughout the year because animals are fed on fodder, while in Kenya yields are affected by climatic changes.
• Kenyan farmers practice mixed farming, while Danish farmers specialise.
• Dairy co-operatives are highly developed in Denmark, providing grants and supplying farmers with machines.
• AI services are more widely used in Denmark than in Kenya, where only a few farmers have access since privatisation.

ii) Beef Farming

Rearing of cattle for meat production.

Conditions Favouring Beef Farming

Kenya

Physical Factors

1. Extensive flatlands with natural grass within Nyika Plateau and Rift Valley region.
2. Moderate temperatures of about 28°C.
3. Moderate rainfall of about 750mm or above ensures enough pasture.
4. Availability of watering sites like Lorian Swamp and several permanent rivers flowing through beef farming areas.

Human Factors

• Availability of ranching schemes which control overgrazing and the spread of pests and diseases.
• Cultural practice of local people who carry out livestock keeping as their occupation.

Argentina

• Argentina is the world’s top beef exporter.
• Beef farming is mainly carried out in pampas grasslands, with major beef farming areas being Chaco, Formosa, and Santiago del Estero.

Physical Factors

1. Extensive rolling pampas grasslands provide good natural grazing and allow cattle to graze freely.
2. Fertile soils from the slopes of the Andes have given rise to good natural pasture.
3. Moderate and well-distributed reliable rainfall (about 1000mm annually) in Pampas favours growth of good pasture throughout the year and ensures regular water supply for animals.
4. Temperatures range between 24°C in summer and about 10°C in winter, enabling grass to grow year-round.

Human Factors

1. High-quality exotic breeds such as Shorthorn and Hereford mature faster and produce quality and quantity beef.
2. Availability of alfalfa, which matures faster and is more nutritious, planted to replace natural grass.
3. Well-developed infrastructure like the railway network used for moving beef cattle from ranches to factories and markets.
4. Availability of large-scale ranches which are well managed and mechanised.
5. Adequate capital allows refrigeration for proper storage of beef products.
6. Availability of local markets in the EU and USA.

Organisation of Beef Farming

Kenya

• 90% of beef cattle are reared by subsistence farmers and pastoralists; the rest by commercial ranching.
• Pastoralists constitute the majority.
• Small-scale farming is distributed all over the country; large-scale farming is carried out in ranches in Rift Valley, Laikipia, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kitui, and Machakos.
• The main indigenous breed kept is Zebu; imported breeds include Aberdare Angus, Hereford, Galloway, Shorthorn, and Charolais.
• Animals are fed on natural grass in pastoralism and nutritious drought-resistant pasture introduced in some ranches to improve beef quality.
• Fertilizers are applied on pasture to improve quality.
• Cattle are frequently inoculated against fatal diseases like anthrax.
• Cattle dips and veterinary services are provided by the government to improve farming activity.

Argentina

• Large-scale ranches known as Estancias.
• Each Estancia has a manager.
• Farms are paddocked.
• Animals are reared mainly on natural pasture, though some areas have been sown with alfalfa.
• Cowboys called gauchos drive horses around farms to look after cattle.
• There are quarters for stockmen at strategic points on the farm.
• Farming is mechanised; aeroplanes, jeeps, and Land Rover cars are used.
• Cattle dips and wind pumps provide water on some farms.
• Calves enter pastures weighing about 180kg.
• They are branded, fattened using cultivated pastures and supplementation for 16–17 months.
• They are slaughtered and taken to meat packing plants, put in cold storage, packed into tins, or taken by rail to slaughterhouses in main towns such as Buenos Aires and Rosario.

Marketing of Beef Products

Kenya

• Small-scale farmers sell animals to butchers who slaughter and sell to consumers after inspection.
• Livestock Marketing Division manages marketing beef from pastoral areas.
• It acts as a co-operative society, buying beef cattle and placing them in holding grounds.
• Animals are vaccinated against diseases and then sold to individual butchers or slaughterhouses through auction.
• Pastoralists sell to middlemen who transport livestock to big towns like Nairobi.

Argentina

• Most beef is consumed locally, although there is a large surplus for export.
• Marketing channels are mainly found in urban areas such as Buenos Aires and Rosario.
• Beef and beef products undergo stringent sanitary tests and certification before export.
• Chilled or corned beef is exported to European countries such as Germany.

Role in the Economies

• Source of foreign exchange when beef and beef products are exported.
• Provides employment to people working in ranches, slaughterhouses, butcheries, etc.
• Saves foreign exchange by supplying beef for local consumption.
• Provides income to farmers and butchers, raising their standard of living.
• Promotes development of industries by providing raw materials, e.g., shoemaking.
• Governments earn revenue from tax levied on beef products.
• In Argentina, it has led to infrastructural improvement from the interior to the coast to ease transportation.

Problems Facing Beef Farming

Kenya

• Refer to problems facing pastoralism and government improvements.

Argentina

• Diseases such as rinderpest, African swine fever, foot and mouth.
• Stringent sanitary conditions must be fulfilled before exporting beef and beef products.
• International trade barriers due to diseases such as mad cow disease restrict exportation to processed beef only.
• Economic and political crises.

Comparison

Similarities

• Indigenous and exotic breeds are kept in both countries.
• Beef animals kept are similar, e.g., Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, etc.
• Beef farming serves local and export markets in both countries.
• Modern farming methods such as crossbreeding, AI, and research are employed in both countries.
• Both experience the problem of pests and diseases.
• Ranching is common in both countries.

Differences

• Argentina has extensive natural pastures, while Kenya has inadequate pastures.
• Higher local demand for beef in Argentina than in Kenya due to higher purchasing power.
• Pests and diseases are a major problem in Kenya, while in Argentina the problem has been controlled.
• Beef farming in Argentina is mainly carried out in extensive ranches, while in Kenya it is mainly by small-scale farmers and ranches are few.
• Farmers in Argentina have more access to capital, while Kenyan farmers have inadequate capital.
• Well-developed transport network in Argentina, while Kenyan roads are poor, hindering transport to markets.
• Beef farming is more highly mechanised in Argentina than in Kenya.

3. Mixed Farming

Growing crops and rearing animals on the same farm.

Characteristics

• Crops are grown and animals reared on the same farm.
• A portion of land is reserved for animal pasture.
• Farms are moderate in size.
• Crop residue is used for fodder.
• Manure from animals is used to fertilise the soil.

Advantages

• When crops fail or prices fluctuate, the farmer can depend on livestock and vice versa.
• The farmer gets income continually.
• Income is larger.
• The farmer is busy throughout the year.
• Using crop residue as fodder saves money that would be spent on buying fodder.
• Using manure from animals ensures sustained crop production and saves money that would be spent on fertilisers.