Why Feedlot Is The Way To Go In Laikipia
Updated on: Nov 05, 2020
Livestock production in Laikipia contributes a great deal to the countys economy. Feedlot farming is a modern technology where animals are reared in a zero grazing unit with the goal of rapidly fattening them.
Feedlots are the most economical way to raise a large number of cattle for beef production in a small area. The beef cattle require energy, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water in specified quantities every day. The resources are for normal body maintenance, including waste removal, growth including weight gain, reproduction and movement.
Animals in a feedlot are managed in a manner that ensures they use most of their nutrient resources for body maintenance and weight gain. That is why they are confined to limit movement; they are supplied with highly nutritious feed at the recommended level of three per cent of their body weight in dry matter and very high levels of hygiene are ensured to minimize disease.
Pastoralism is very common in Laikipia North constituency. According to the County Statistical Abstract 2020, the average quantity of meat produced in 2019 by every head of cattle slaughtered was 150kgs. The total number of kilograms of meat produced in that same year was 2,643,150 kgs.
Pastoralist farmers, and especially in the northern parts of the county, have experienced constant conflict involving resources, cattle rustling. Crop farmers in the area have also been in conflict with their pastoralist counterparts due to the fact that animals grazing in their lands may cause destruction of crops and trespassing of property.
Through feedlot farming, these conflicts will be minimized a great deal. Animals enclosed in definite paddocks for the purpose of producing high quality beef will not just benefit the pastoralist but also crop farmers.
Cattle rustling which has been an issue in Laikipia for the last couple of years will also be reduced. Ranches in Laikipia which have adopted feedlot farming are better placed in avoiding conflicts. An example is Ol Maisor Ranch in Rumuruti. The people in the ranch have been enjoying peace and healing from the invasion of illegal herders who left several people dead, livestock stolen, and landowners like Kuki Gallmann injured.
In this case feedlots are most definitely the solution required to sort the mess of cattle rustling in the Laikipia ranches which in previous years has been a cause of deaths, loss of property and outright enmity among constituents.
Feedlots are the most economical way to raise a large number of cattle for beef production in a small area. The beef cattle require energy, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water in specified quantities every day. The resources are for normal body maintenance, including waste removal, growth including weight gain, reproduction and movement.
Animals in a feedlot are managed in a manner that ensures they use most of their nutrient resources for body maintenance and weight gain. That is why they are confined to limit movement; they are supplied with highly nutritious feed at the recommended level of three per cent of their body weight in dry matter and very high levels of hygiene are ensured to minimize disease.
Pastoralism is very common in Laikipia North constituency. According to the County Statistical Abstract 2020, the average quantity of meat produced in 2019 by every head of cattle slaughtered was 150kgs. The total number of kilograms of meat produced in that same year was 2,643,150 kgs.
Pastoralist farmers, and especially in the northern parts of the county, have experienced constant conflict involving resources, cattle rustling. Crop farmers in the area have also been in conflict with their pastoralist counterparts due to the fact that animals grazing in their lands may cause destruction of crops and trespassing of property.
Through feedlot farming, these conflicts will be minimized a great deal. Animals enclosed in definite paddocks for the purpose of producing high quality beef will not just benefit the pastoralist but also crop farmers.
Cattle rustling which has been an issue in Laikipia for the last couple of years will also be reduced. Ranches in Laikipia which have adopted feedlot farming are better placed in avoiding conflicts. An example is Ol Maisor Ranch in Rumuruti. The people in the ranch have been enjoying peace and healing from the invasion of illegal herders who left several people dead, livestock stolen, and landowners like Kuki Gallmann injured.
In this case feedlots are most definitely the solution required to sort the mess of cattle rustling in the Laikipia ranches which in previous years has been a cause of deaths, loss of property and outright enmity among constituents.
