Two goat farmers at Ntulele area in Narok East Sub County are counting losses after their 20 dairy goats died due to grain overload.
One of the farmers Ezekiel Kamoiro said he lost six toggenburg goats that he had purchased at Sh20,000 each at a farm in Naivasha, after they ate grains at a harvested maize field.
“Due to the ongoing drought in this area, the animals were feeding on harvested maize fields when they ate maize grains, and died a few hours later,” he said.
Kamoiro said each of the dairy goats produced between one and two litres of milk every day, which he sells at Sh100 per liter, adding their death has severely affected his main source of income.
“I had purchased two of the goats a few weeks ago to add to my stock so that I can have more milk to sell. Goat milk is on high demand in this area as many people prefer to wean their infants with milk,” he said.
Another farmer Seyieki Ole Esho lost 15 goats within a week after they fed on a harvested maize farm in Ntulele area.
“I was forced to migrate the remaining goats to Sakutiek area, in Narok North Sub County because of the severe drought that has hit this region,” he said.
A local veterinary officer Samuel Kirtela confirmed that the goats had died due to grain overload that causes rumen acidosis.
He explained that rumen acidosis is a carbohydrate fermentation disorder that can affect goats of all breeds and ages. It leads to slowing of the gut dehydration and often death.
Kirtela said that the signs may include depression, bloat, muscle twitching, diarrhea, lack of rumination and teeth grinding.
The severity of the signs of grain poisoning, he said, will depend on the quantity of grain eaten and the degree of adaptation of the animal to the grain diet.
The veterinarian urged the farmers to carefully introduce grains to their livestock and should be closely monitored.
“Some grains such as oats and lupins are safer since they have a higher ratio of fiber to starch than that of wheat and maize,” he said.