Seeds of Gold writer Richard Maosi spoke to Dr Fred Kemboi, a Research Scientist in animal nutrition at the Beef Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Lanet in Nakuru.
Briefly give us an overview of livestock feed status in Kenya.
Kenya’s livestock sector is currently grappling with a severe feed crisis, marked by a 60 per cent national deficit in livestock feed and compounded by 46 per cent post-harvest losses.
Prolonged droughts between 2020 to 2023 devastated forage production, driving up the cost of commercial feeds by over 22 per cent, making them unaffordable for many livestock farmers.
A man inspects carcasses of his livestock in Marsabit County on February 10, 2023. In Kenya, climate variability has brought unprecedented droughts, affecting crop production and livestock.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Despite the availability of natural pastures, silage, and agro-industrial by-products, their seasonal variability and inconsistent supply pose significant setback in the sub-sector.
Outline some of the key challenges crippling the livestock sector in the country.
Feed expenses are the largest operating costs in livestock keeping, they account for 60–80 per cent of variable expenses in dairy production, with a 70kg bag of dairy meal now retailing at Sh3,000 to Sh4,700.
On top of that, persistent droughts in five consecutive seasons between 2020–2023 led to massive fodder failure.
There is limited raw materials, in this case shortage of yellow maize, soy, and cottonseed cake due to import restrictions and climate impacts.
There is competition for inputs whereby the poultry, human and dairy sectors compete for similar feed ingredients, straining the few available supply chains.
Cattle at the Nanyuki Railway Station, being transported to the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) in Athi-River.
Photo credit: Kenya Railways
Competition and input sourcing challenges affect pricing and availability, also manufacturing competitiveness is constrained by raw material imports and price volatility.
What are some of the policies and strategic interventions that have been put in place by the government to cushion farmers?
This is anchored in the National Livestock Policy (2020) and Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (2019–2029). In this context much emphasis has been put on local feed production, input diversification, and climate resilient systems.
We are promoting of local feed production and use of drought-tolerant forage crops. We encourage Total Mixed Fermentation Feed (TMF) and Total Mixed Rations(TMR) systems to utilise by-products and improve feed efficiency.
Locals and their livestock at Kibish center water point near the border of Kenya and Ethiopia. Drought is fueling conflicts among locals as water sources continue to reduce due to lowering water table.
Photo credit: Sammy Lutta | Nation Media Group
There is private-public partnerships to develop long-term feed resilience strategies that can withstand climatic shocks amid worsening fodder insecurity.
Take us through the Total Mixed Fermentation Feed strategy (TMF) an innovative livestock feeding technology.
The strategy combines various agro-food by-products, that is brewers’ grain, maize cobs, banana peels, rice bran, and pineapple pulp among others, into a balanced, fermented feed ration.
Unlike conventional Total Mixed Rations (TMR), TMF undergoes microbial fermentation, which significantly improves nutrient digestibility, stabilizes moisture-rich by-products, and enhances palatability
Dr Fred Kemboi, a research scientist in animal nutrition at the Beef Research Institute, Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO), Lanet in Nakuru, in this photo taken on August 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Richard Maosi| Nation Media Group
The process preserves high-moisture by-products that would otherwise spoil quickly and promotes rumen microbial activity, leading to overall enhanced feed conversion efficiency.
TMF is particularly valuable in regions facing feed scarcity, as it transforms locally available waste streams into cost-effective, sustainable feed resources while reducing environmental burdens associated with disposal.
What are some of the objectives of introducing the concept of Total Mixed Fermentation Feeds?
Compare feed intake and conversion efficiency across TMF, TMR, and control groups.
Evaluate growth performance and productivity metrics, including milk yield, weight gain, and body condition scoring, that allows to determine and compare the ratio between far, bones and muscles.
Also, to assess economic viability through feed cost analysis, labour inputs, and product value, monitor environmental impacts, focusing on methane emissions and manure quality. Provide empirical evidence to guide feeding protocols for livestock systems.
What are some of the practical benefits of Total Mixed Fermentation Feed to livestock farmers?
The feeding strategy improves feed intake by 20 per cent, accelerating growth and production efficiency across livestock systems.
It utilises agro-industrial by-products, mitigating grain shortages and enhancing feed resilience thus reduces reliance on expensive supplements, resulting in measurable cost savings.
It supports long-term preservation, extending feed usability and lowers carbon emissions by up to 20 per cent, contributing to climate-smart livestock production.
It recycles manure as fertilizer, enhancing soil fertility and reducing waste.
In a nutshell what are some of the expected outcomes on the new feed technology?
Enhanced growth and milk productivity, especially in TMF-fed dairy cattle. Reduced feeding costs and improved use of agro-industrial by-products.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. Better manure quality for recycling into soil fertility programs.
Scalable feeding protocols that support inclusive and sustainable livestock intensification in Kenya.
Who are you partnering with?
Total Mixed Fermentation pilot project in Kenya is a transformative crop residue into climate smart livestock Feed for increased productivity.
The programme is in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization KALRO tasked to carry out scientific research and transfer of knowledge to end users enhancing food security.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to finance the project and working closely with FarmFeed Bio Limited the brain behind the innovation strategy.
Making use of the available local resources is going to be cost effective and sustainable for livestock productivity.
Also, it will play a pivotal role towards providing reliable and up to date data for future research and projections to foster goals of livestock masterplan in Kenya.
Therefore this platform is a solution to Kenyan farmers who undergo a myriad of challenges among them feed scarcity.
