Government, Industry Unite to Address Kenya’s Growing Livestock Feed Deficit

By Kimuri Mwangi

Kenya’s livestock industry has long been one of the country’s most important agricultural pillars, supporting millions of livelihoods, contributing significantly to food security and serving as a key driver of rural economies.

Yet behind the country’s expanding dairy, poultry, aquaculture and beef industries lies a challenge that continues to undermine productivity and competitiveness: the rising cost and limited availability of quality animal feed.

Industry players and government officials say animal feed remains the single biggest determinant of livestock productivity, accounting for between 70 and 80 percent of production costs. As feed prices continue to climb, farmers face shrinking profit margins while consumers bear the burden through higher prices for milk, meat, eggs and other livestock products.

These issues dominated discussions at the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA) Feeds Exhibition and Conference in Nairobi, where stakeholders called for greater investment in local raw material production, innovation and supportive government policies to secure the future of Kenya’s livestock sector.

The African Feed Conference and Exhibition has brought together policymakers, researchers, feed manufacturers and development partners to discuss innovations, investment and policy reforms aimed at strengthening Africa’s livestock sector.

Livestock continues to play a vital role in Kenya’s economy. According to AKEFEMA Chairman Joseph Karuri, the sector contributes about 3 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 40 percent of agricultural GDP and approximately 22 percent of the national food system while supporting millions of livelihoods.

More than 70 percent of Kenya’s livestock population is found in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), making livestock production not only an economic activity but also a lifeline for pastoral communities.

The country’s feed manufacturing industry has expanded considerably over the years, with approximately 400 feed millers producing an estimated 2.5 million metric tonnes of compounded animal feed annually. Commercial manufacturers account for about 2 million metric tonnes, while home mixers and cottage industries produce the remaining half a million tonnes.

Poultry dominates feed consumption, accounting for nearly 60 percent of commercial feed production, followed by the dairy sector at 29 percent. Demand is also rising from aquaculture, pig farming and commercial beef production, sectors viewed as offering enormous growth potential.

Government officials note that Kenya’s dairy industry has been a success story dating back to both the pre-independence and post-independence periods.

Newton Kariuki, who heads the Animal Feeds and Nutrition Section in the State Department for Livestock Development, said sustained policy support, commercial investments and improvements in breeding have helped position Kenya as a regional leader in milk production.

He attributed recent gains to several interventions, including subsidised fertiliser programmes that have boosted maize production, increased availability of maize silage and investments in artificial insemination and breeding.

Growing urbanisation, rising incomes and increasing demand for dairy products have also encouraged farmers to commercialise production.

However, Kariuki noted that despite progress, nutrition remains the biggest limiting factor to unlocking the full genetic potential of Kenya’s livestock.

Despite the industry’s growth, Kenya faces a severe feed shortage.

According to government estimates presented during the conference, the country requires about 25 million metric tonnes of dry matter annually but currently produces only about 40 percent of that requirement. The resulting 60 percent feed deficit continues to constrain livestock productivity, particularly during drought periods when pasture and fodder supplies diminish sharply.

The shortage extends beyond forage to compounded feed ingredients used by manufacturers. Karuri said approximately 80 percent of the raw materials required by feed manufacturers are imported because local production remains insufficient.

Soybeans are among the biggest gaps, with more than 90 percent of Kenya’s requirements sourced from abroad. A similar dependence exists for sunflower meal and cottonseed meal, where between 80 and 90 percent is imported. This dependence exposes manufacturers to fluctuating global prices, exchange rate movements, transport costs and supply chain disruptions.

The high cost of feed has emerged as perhaps the greatest concern for livestock producers.

Feed accounts for up to 80 percent of livestock production costs, meaning any increase in raw material prices directly affects the profitability of dairy, poultry, pig and aquaculture enterprises. Kariuki warned that expensive feed ultimately raises the cost of milk, eggs and meat, making animal-source foods less affordable for consumers while reducing Kenya’s competitiveness in regional export markets.

“Once it affects the producers, it means the products from the animals, be it beef, milk or eggs, become expensive,” he said. “If they become inaccessible to ordinary consumers, we face food security challenges while also becoming less competitive within the region.”

Several factors continue to push prices upward, including expensive imported ingredients, inefficient supply chains, high post-harvest losses, outdated production technologies and limited uptake of research innovations.

One of the most persistent challenges facing Kenya’s feed industry is competition between humans and livestock for maize. White maize remains Kenya’s staple food and is also the country’s primary source of energy in compounded animal feeds. Because domestic maize production often falls short of national food demand, feed manufacturers struggle to access sufficient quantities at affordable prices.

AKEFEMA is advocating greater production and use of yellow maize specifically for animal feed while reserving white maize for human consumption. Industry leaders believe this approach would reduce direct competition between food and feed markets.

Recurring droughts continue to expose the vulnerability of Kenya’s livestock production systems. Reduced pasture availability frequently results in livestock deaths, particularly in pastoral counties. Climate change has also reduced forage productivity while increasing the cost of hay and silage during dry seasons.

Global events have compounded the problem. Karuri noted that conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Gulf disrupted international supply chains for feed ingredients, increasing import costs for Kenyan manufacturers.

Beyond affordability, feed quality has become an increasing concern. Government officials said they continue receiving reports of suspected adulterated and poorly labelled animal feeds entering the market.

Kariuki stressed that stronger quality assurance and enforcement are necessary because poor-quality feed not only affects livestock productivity but can also compromise food safety.

“What goes into the animal eventually finds its way onto our tables,” he said.

AKEFEMA has also highlighted concerns over aflatoxin contamination in hay and silage used by farmers, even as commercial feed manufacturers increasingly adopt technologies such as mycotoxin binders to improve feed safety.

House Farm Chief Executive Officer John Muhia said technological innovations are helping manufacturers detect aflatoxins and other mycotoxins before feed reaches the market, improving feed safety and protecting livestock health. He urged manufacturers to test both raw materials and finished products before releasing feeds for sale to ensure farmers receive safe, quality products.

To address these challenges in the industry, the government has introduced several policy and investment initiatives. Among the most ambitious is the proposed National Feed Strategy, a 10-year investment programme valued at approximately Sh465 billion. The strategy prioritises development of pasture, fodder crops, sunflower and other strategic feed commodities across 14 value chains.

The government is also implementing the Livestock Master Plan, an evidence-based planning framework that guides investments according to agro-ecological conditions.

Another flagship initiative is the One Ward, One Fodder programme, targeting all 1,450 wards nationwide. The programme aims to produce 300,000 metric tonnes of dry matter annually by 2028 to improve forage availability and reduce livestock losses during drought.

Meanwhile, discussions are progressing on establishing a Strategic National Feed Reserve that would allow surplus hay, silage and fodder to be stored during favourable seasons and released during drought emergencies. Officials believe the reserve could significantly strengthen national resilience against climate shocks.

Recognising Kenya’s dependence on imported feed ingredients, the government is encouraging manufacturers to utilise the East African Community Duty Remission Scheme. The programme allows eligible feed manufacturers to import selected raw materials duty-free, helping lower production costs while local production capacity is expanded.

Kariuki described the approach as a dual strategy that combines short-term cost reduction through import incentives with long-term investment in domestic production. Government support also extends to emergency feed subsidies during droughts to cushion vulnerable livestock keepers.

Both government and the industry players agree that expanding local production of feed crops is critical for long-term sustainability. Stakeholders are advocating contract farming arrangements that guarantee farmers stable markets while providing manufacturers with reliable supplies of soybean, sunflower, canola, yellow maize and cotton. Kenyan farmers, they said, are willing to produce these crops if assured of profitable and dependable markets.

Expanding domestic production would reduce import dependence, lower feed prices and strengthen national food security.

Technology emerged as a recurring theme in the conference also. Industry leaders identified precision nutrition, automated feed mills, digital feed formulation, traceability systems and climate-smart forage varieties as critical tools for improving productivity while reducing costs.

Alternative protein sources such as black soldier fly insects also featured prominently as potential substitutes for conventional protein ingredients.

Government officials also called for evidence-based discussions on biotechnology, noting that Bt cotton has demonstrated higher yields and increased the availability of cottonseed cake for livestock feed.

Although restrictions remain on genetically modified feed ingredients, officials said ongoing discussions should be guided by science, biosafety and national interests.

Both the government and industry players also emphasised that transforming Kenya’s feed sector will require coordinated action among manufacturers, researchers, county governments, financial institutions and development partners.

Manufacturers were urged to strengthen quality assurance and farmer education, while research institutions were encouraged to accelerate development of climate-smart feed technologies. County governments were asked to prioritise feed and fodder programmes within their agricultural development plans, recognising animal nutrition as the foundation of successful livestock production.

Despite the challenges, stakeholders expressed optimism that with sustained policy support, greater local production of feed ingredients and continued investment in innovation, Kenya can strengthen its livestock feed industry and position itself as a regional leader in livestock productivity.

For an industry that underpins millions of livelihoods and much of the country’s food system, securing affordable, high-quality animal feed is increasingly being viewed not simply as an agricultural priority but as a national economic imperative.