Research has shown that smallholder farmers can increase milk yields for their animals by feeding them on a mixture of Napier grass and desmodium.

Desmodium being a legume is high in crude protein content (10-17 per cent) as opposed to Napier grass (seven to 10 per cent) and therefore supplementing it to Napier grass is crucial as it increases nitrogen content in the diet.

Nitrogen is a structural component of the milk casein and therefore increasing it in cows’ diet has a direct influence on total solids; it increases milk fat and hence increases milk density and yield.

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A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that milk production dropped by 17.5 per cent in the first five months of 2017 due to drought. The report indicates that 215.9 million liters were sold to processors between January and May 2017 compared to 261.9 million liters in a similar period in 2016.

In this, farmers can use a mixture of Napier grass and desomodium to increase milk yields gradually by feeding them on their cows regularly.

 Napier grass is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the African grasslands. A majority of small scale farmers use the crop to feed their animals in the dairy production areas of Kenya. It is a high yielding fodder crop with good palatability and is highly nutritious especially when young with dark green leaves and less than one meter tall.

Desmodium is a large perennial tropical forage legume. It does better at altitudes between 500 and 2500m in the tropics. It grows well on slopes. It can be grown in areas where annual rainfall is above 900mm and up to 3000mm. During the growing season, it is more susceptible to drought and has better tolerance of flooding and waterlogging.

Before planting, plough and harrow the field well. Dig planting holes at a space of three by two feet (90*60 cm). In each hole apply a handful of farmyard manure and half a soda bottle top of diammonium phosphate (DAP).

While planting, place a three node piece of Napier cane ensuring two nodes are covered into the ground or place root splits into the planting hole and cover with soil. Make furrows along the Napier grass lines or in between rows to drill desmodium seeds or plant fresh desmodium stem cuttings. Make sure that you keep the field weed free.

Harvest the Napier grass and Desmodium when they are at two to three feet (60-90 cm) high. Leave a stem length of four inches (10 cm) from the ground at harvesting. When feeding it to the animals, chop them to reduce wastage. Re-growth can be harvested when two to three feet (60-90 cm) high which means a period of six to eight weeks between the cuts.

Combined Napier grass and Desmodium means more fodder of better quality and can double milk for farmers. Napier grass uses nitrogen supplied by Desmodium and therefore saves farmers on costs on top dressing.