Abstract:
Low goat milk yield is a major constraint in Kitui County. A survey was carried out in Kitui Township, Kyangwithya east and Kyangwithya west wards of Kitui Central Sub County to assess and document the factors influencing dairy goat milk production and its roles towards improvement of rural livelihood. The environmental and managerial factors affecting milk production of different goat breeds was surveyed. Data was collected through questionnaires, observation and recording, and photography. Interviews were on household and weather characteristics, social, economic and management activities of the household keeping dairy goats. Multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 90 respondents from the two agro ecological zone within the survey area and the data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social scientist software. Most of the households had less than five family members and were headed by men mostly with basic primary education. Rainfall was found to affect milk production levels with the March to May rains having more effects on milk production than the October to December rains. Semi-arid part received less rainfall than the sub humid part and was more prone to feed shortages during the dry season. Household farm holdings were found to be small characterized by low soil fertility levels due to over utilization. Feed supplementation and frequency of watering of goats was found influence milk production levels. Adoption of goat housing and disease control management such as dipping and drenching were, found to influence milk production levels by controlling both external and internal parasites and reducing housing management related diseases and pests such as diseases such as pneumonia, orf, flea and lice among others. Buck rotation and exchange was the common way of minimizing inbreeding with a few famers using castration. Education levels, experience in goat keeping and membership to self-help groups was also found to influence milk production levels across the two breeds. Similarly, household income sources and accessibility to credit was found to positively affect milk production levels. Most of the respondents reported increased income levels through sale of live animals (culls and off springs), milk, meat, manure, skins, cheese, and sale of buck service with much of the income being used to buy food and pay school fees. Household nutrition was increased across all family members including the old and children. Sensitizing farmers on proper animal husbandry practices, proper water harvesting techniques, providing them with drought resistant pasture and fodder seeds and availing credit facilities is recommended as a way of increasing milk production and improving rural livelihood of farmers within the study area
