Kenya’s dairy industry reports 250.6M litres of milk collection in Q1 2025

KENYA – Kenya’s dairy sector achieved a milestone in Q1 2025, with formal processors receiving 250.6 million litres of milk, marking a 56% year-on-year increase, according to the Kenya Dairy Board.

The board reported that January 2025 delivered 90.45 million litres, which was the highest monthly intake to processors in Kenya’s history.

February followed with 77.94 million litres, and March reached 82.22 million with each month setting new records and outperforming long-term averages (2001–2024) by over 90%.

Kenya’s formal sector milk intake has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.3% over the past 24 years.

Traditionally, milk intake dips in January and February due to dry spells, with peaks during the long rains (April–June) and short rains (October–December). However, 2025 has defied this pattern.

Q1 2024

According to the Kenya Dairy Board, in Q1 2024, formal processors collected 160.6 million litres, reflecting steady growth supported by favourable weather conditions and government interventions.

The country’s total milk production reached 5.2 billion litres annually, positioning Kenya as a leading dairy producer in Africa.

The formal sector saw a rise in milk intake, driven by efforts to streamline supply chains and encourage farmers to engage with processors. Additionally, the government’s focus on genetic improvements and disease control played a crucial role in sustaining high yields.

Kenya to adopt sexed semen technology to boost production

Recently, the Kenyan government has been exploring advanced semen sexing technology to increase milk production in the country, according to Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke.

Reported by the State Department for Livestock, the initiative aims to boost the probability of dairy cows giving birth to heifers by over 90 percent, ensuring sustained growth in the dairy herd.

Mueke noted that discussions are underway with ABS Global, an American breeding company specialising in bovine genetics, to establish a partnership that would make sexed semen more accessible and affordable for Kenyan farmers. 

A report by the department indicated that the use of this technology is expected to enhance dairy productivity by increasing the number of female calves, which are essential for milk production.

Sexed semen technology involves processing semen in a laboratory to remove a significant percentage of Y chromosomes, which are responsible for male offspring. 

According to ABS Global, the process uses laser technology to sort sperm cells based on chromosome type, thereby increasing the likelihood of producing heifer calves. 

The procedure is carried out by identifying chromosome differences through size or DNA content, allowing technicians to separate X-bearing sperm from Y-bearing sperm with high accuracy.

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