OPINION: How high-quality feed supports better results in livestock farming

For many livestock farmers across Kenya, managing production costs has become an everyday priority. Feed prices fluctuate, veterinary expenses rise, and climate-related disruptions place pressure on already tight margins.

In this environment, one factor is proving increasingly important in improving both productivity and cost control: consistent, high-quality animal feed.

Animal feed typically accounts for more than half of the cost of producing milk, meat, or eggs. When feed quality is reliable and nutritionally balanced, animals perform more efficiently, health risks are reduced, and farmers achieve more predictable results.

Poor or inconsistent feed quality, on the other hand, often leads farmers to compensate by feeding more, changing products frequently, and having to deal with additional health issues. Approaches that increase costs over time.

Feed quality challenges are not always caused by deliberate shortcuts. In many cases, they result from inconsistent raw materials and limited standardization in feed production. Two bags of feed may look similar but deliver very different nutritional values.

For livestock, particularly dairy cows, these fluctuations can disrupt digestion, reduce milk yield, and weaken immunity.

Cows thrive on routine. Stable nutrient intake supports rumen health, consistent production, and stronger resilience to disease.

When feed quality varies, production can drop without an obvious cause, prompting reactive decisions and actions that further affect performance and costs.

Climate variability has increased reliance on commercial feeds, especially during dry periods when pasture quality declines. In such conditions, high-quality feed becomes essential for maintaining output.

Nutrition experts consistently note that cheaper feed is not always more affordable. Poor feed conversion means more is needed to achieve the same results, eroding profitability in the long run.

Improving feed quality starts with strong manufacturing practices and quality assurance. Local production allows for more frequent testing of raw materials, better adaptation to local conditions, and faster responses to quality issues.

De Heus Kenya is an animal feed company investing in this approach in Kenya, combining local feed production with structured quality control systems.

Beyond feed manufacturing, the company also supports farmers with technical on-farm advice to help ensure feeds are used correctly and deliver the expected results.

Monitoring indicators such as milk yield, body condition, and feed intake allows farmers to better measure outcomes and make informed decisions.

As livestock farming becomes more commercialized and climate pressures intensify, feed quality will play an increasingly central role in cost control.

By focusing on consistency, quality, measurable performance, and informed feeding practices, farmers can move from feeding more to feeding better.

This results in healthier animals, steadier production, and more sustainable and profitable farms.