Forages That Actually Work: A Farmer-to-Farmer Guide (No Sales Pitch)

 By a Kirinyaga dairy farmer who just wants better milk

I saw that Itungo Pastures video doing rounds on YouTube Shorts — “Increase milk and beef by planting these forages.” 4.3K views in 3 days. Nice. But I’m not here to sell you seeds. I’m a farmer in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, milking 12 cows on 2 acres. I’ve tried the grasses they talk about. Some work. Some don’t. Here’s the real talk — no ads, no affiliate links, just what I’ve learned the hard way.

Brachiaria (Mulato II) 

What it is: Hybrid Brachiaria grass, not the local wild type.

- Why I love it 

  - Grows fast even in dry January–February.  

  - Cows eat every blade — no waste.  

  - Milk went from 8 liters to 14 liters per cow in 3 months.  

- Real cost: KSh 1,200 per kg seed. 5 kg covers 1 acre.  

- Where I got it: Local agrovet in Kerugoya (ask for certified Mulato II).  

- Tip: Mix with desmodium. Fixes nitrogen. Saves fertilizer money.

Napier Grass – Still King, But…

- Truth: Everyone plants it. But most use old, diseased stems.  

- My fix:  

  - Only use Kakwani or Pakistan 304 varieties (from KALRO).  

  - Plant in lines 1m apart, not clumps. Easier to weed.  

  - Cut at 60 cm height — sweetest, most nutritious.  

- Problem: Smut disease kills it in 2 years.  

  - Solution: Burn infected patches. Replant with clean stems.


Alfalfa – High Risk, High Reward

- Reality check:  

  - Needs perfect drainage. My first plot died in heavy rain.  

  - Needs limeif your soil is sour (test it!).  

- But when it works:  

  - 1 acre feeds 5 cows all year.  

  - Protein so high, I cut dairy meal by half.  

- Starter tip: Begin with ¼ acre. Use irrigation if possible.


Rhodes Grass – For Dry Areas Only

- Good in Mwea, Thiba, lower Kirinyaga.  

- Useless in wet highlands — gets choked by weeds.  

- Plant once, lasts 5+ years. Low maintenance.


Calliandra Trees – Free Protein

- Plant along fence lines.  

- Cut leaves every 2 months. Mix with Napier.  

- Cows love it. No bloating.  

- Bonus: Sell poles after 7 years.

What I Wish Someone Told Me


| Mistake | Fix |v

| Planting without soil test | Spend KSh 500 at county lab — save thousands later |

| Using roadside Napier stems | Full of disease. Buy certified |

| Cutting grass too low | Kills regrowth. Cut at knee height |

| No silage in dry season | Milk drops 50%. Make silage in June |

Simple 30-Day Plan (Start Today)


Week 1: Test soil. Buy 2 kg Brachiaria + 1 kg desmodium.  

Week 2: Clear ¼ acre. Apply manure.  

Week 3: Plant in lines. Water daily for 2 weeks.  

Week 4: Watch it grow. First cut in 6 weeks.

Final Word


You don’t need fancy seeds from Uganda. Start with what’s proven in Kirinyaga:  

Brachiaria + Desmodium + Clean Napier = More milk, less cost.


No company paid me to write this. I just hate seeing fellow farmers struggle with low yields while feed prices kill us.

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