Thubuku Dairy

THUBUKU DAIRY Ken Mellish
Colleen Walton and I arrived back at the Thubuku dairy to teach farmers about dairy cattle raising and
improving milk quality. Thubuku is a small dairy which has had some recent difficulties. In addition to
the country wide drought which swept Kenya their milk collection van broke down and their manage
left the dairy. Farmers Helping Farmers had provided help by purchasing them a new engine for their
van and hiring them a new manager. Otherwise the dairy would have collapsed and all the work done to
date would have been lost.
After the usual delays we head out for the first days teaching along a very bumpy road. We arrive at
the farm and the scene is just what we have learned to expect. There are a few farmers , all men as the
women will arrive later as they finish their chores, wash, change and walk to farm where we are
teaching. No one comes on time because they mostly do not have a watch and also in case we do not
show up it is best to see our van pass their farm before starting out.
My first thought is always the same : What could we possibly offer to a farmer with two small cows in a
shed that has been constructed from trees on the farm and a few sheets of steel ? We start on “cow
comfort” discussing stall size, lounge space and placement of the head rail. Then Colleen talks about the
role of cow sanitation in preventing mastitis, all topics which we have learned at home. Afterwards we
move out of the cow shed and talk about the importance of cutting forage at the correct stage of
maturity and cleaning milking equipment. Colleen finishes by giving a short talk on the importance of
feeding adequate milk to their children. Suddenly it is four hours later and the temperature has risen to
the low 30’s C and there are thirty farmers listening and asking questions. Some explain to our new
friends how our teaching last year has helped their farms. Great endorsements ! After tea, boiled eggs
and bananas we say goodbye and head back down the dirt road.

Later Colleen goes out on the milk collection van to see the pick up process and check the milk quality.
Her presence causes quite a stir as this area has had very few “European “visitors. Finally as darkness
approaches we travel beck to town, tired, dirty and pleased that we had connected with our dairy
farmers.