How to Make Millions in Dairy Farming
Mary Wanjiru, a dairy farmer in Githunguri, has built one of the most successful dairy businesses in Kenya. She has 70 cows that produce 2,100 litres of milk every day. With the farmgate milk price at Ksh 50 per litre, she earns Ksh 105,000 per day, which adds up to Ksh 3.15 million per month and Ksh 37.8 million per year.
Running a dairy farm comes with many costs. The biggest cost is feeding the cows, which costs about Ksh 450 per cow per day. In total, Mary spends Ksh 945,000 per month on feed. Other expenses include paying workers (Ksh 200,000 per month), veterinary care and breeding (Ksh 210,000 per month), electricity and water (Ksh 100,000 per month), and miscellaneous costs (Ksh 150,000 per month). This brings the total monthly costs to Ksh 1.605 million.
Even with these costs, Mary still makes a good profit. After expenses, she earns Ksh 1.545 million per month, which adds up to Ksh 18.54 million per year.
Her success comes from proper cow management, quality feeding, and smart cost control. Mary Wanjiru’s farm is proof that dairy farming can be a highly profitable business in Kenya.