Nyagatare, in eastern Rwanda, has extensive grazing land and rolling plains considered suitable for cattle farming. The district has 5,287 grazing areas covering more than 68,000 hectares, according to Kakooza Henry, the district’s acting mayor.

The district also has 15 milk collection centres and 27 functioning artificial water ponds, while two additional ponds are being developed with support from the CDAT project, one in Bwera in Matimba sector and another in Karangazi.

Kakooza said 184 boreholes have been drilled to provide water for livestock, although more infrastructure is still needed.

“We have 184 boreholes that support livestock farming, but there is still a water gap,” Kakooza said.

Nyagatare also has seven cattle markets, where about 850 cattle are sold on a typical market day, he said. The district has a modern abattoir with relatively large processing capacity compared with the number of cattle currently sent there.

Data from a cattle vaccination programme conducted in late July put Nyagatare’s cattle population at about 215,000, with large numbers concentrated in Karangazi and Rwimiyaga sectors.

But the district’s large cattle population has not translated into high milk production.

“Although we have 215,000 cattle, only 30% are producing milk,” Kakooza said. “This means the farmer is making a loss because the income they get cannot cover the cost of maintaining the farm.”

Low yields

Milk production remains low in several parts of Nyagatare, with some cows producing only one or two litres a day.

Kakooza said the highest-producing cattle are generally those kept under zero-grazing or more controlled housing systems. He cited farmers in Karama sector as an example of cattle producing better yields.

Farmers also face pressure from low milk prices. A litre of milk is selling for about 400 Rwandan francs, according to the district official, a price farmers say does not adequately cover the costs of feeding and maintaining cattle.

For Nyagatare, improving milk yields could therefore be more important than simply increasing the number of cattle, as the district seeks to turn its large livestock population into a more profitable source of income for farmers.