A group of Ugandan farmers, recognized as the best in 2020, recently traveled to the Netherlands to explore cattle management practices. Their visit took them to a dairy and beef cattle farm in the province of Friesland, known for its Holstein breeds.
The Dutch farm, with a history spanning three decades, is home to approximately 200 mature cattle and 35 calves. Impressively, they consistently yield 7,000 liters of milk daily from their herd, thanks to advanced automation. Only four employees work on the farm, where robots handle various tasks, including cleaning and milking.
The cows at this farm produce between 38 to 60 liters of milk per day and vary in weight from 700 to 770 kilograms. Their feeding routine consists of a daily partially mixed ratio, with the amount of concentrates adjusted based on milk production. Milking is entirely automated.
During the visit, Ugandan farmers were introduced to these advanced practices. Gloria Rwamafa, one of the farmers, emphasized that success for Ugandan farmers hinges on improving livestock breeds and optimizing feeding methods.
Titus Hillary Sebayinga, a dairy farmer from Jinja, noted the significance of proper animal nutrition and emphasized treating farming as a business. He considered it the way forward for farmers.
Bob Kagoro, another farmer, was impressed by the high level of mechanization on the Dutch farm, where robots have replaced human labor. He encouraged Ugandan farmers to consider investing in machinery to reduce losses on their farms.
