The County Government of Uasin Gishu in partnership with the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) is set to establish an embryo transfer center in Eldoret town.
The move is aimed at boosting dairy productivity and breeding in the North Rift and Western Kenya.
According to the Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Agriculture and Livestock Samuel Yego, the initiative will be a game-changer, as it will improve the dairy industry by improving genetics across the region.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News in Eldoret town, Yego noted that the Embryo Transfer Centre is expected to be ready for use by mid-2022.
“With this embryo center, a farmer will be able to get high-quality calf at a far cheaper price, and in turn help boost milk production,” noted Yego.
“To get a good dairy cow, a farmer will need at least Ksh250,000 but with this center around this area, it will be as cheap as between Ksh15,000 to Ksh20,000,” he added.
The CECM noted that as soon as the center is ready, farmers will start to utilize it.
The Embryo Transfer Centre, the first one of its kind in the North Rift and Western part of Kenya, is expected to boost milk production in Uasin Gishu County.
Currently, milk processors collect between 250,000 to 300,000 liters of milk from farmers in the County.
The County Government of Uasin Gishu has in the past few years been providing farmers with sexed semen at a subsidized fee of Ksh1,500, and the latest development will complement the efforts to improve farmers’ breed.
