Statistical modelling /Concentrates and milk yield

Romney et al. reported that cooperative prices for concentrates varied from 8 to 15 Kenya shillings(Ksh)/kg and for milk from 14.5 to 18 Ksh/kg. They noted that with a regression coefficient of 2 kg/day farmers would make a profit, even at the highest prices for concentrates and the lowest prices for milk.

The present analysis confirms this to be the case during early to mid lactation but suggests that profit margins might have not have been so great later in lactation. Indeed, some farmers may have been over-feeding their cows at this time.

Average levels of concentrations fed to cows decreased only slightly during lactation - from about 5 kg/day in early lactation to slightly under 4 kg/day in the latter part of lactation. Thus, farmers on the whole did not follow the researchers' recommendations and continued to feed concentrates throughout lactation.