By Joshua Kato
Tomorrow, the dairy keeping masterclass will be held at Sight Farm in Namulonge, owned by Henry Sight Lugolobi, the 2023 Best Farmer.
The training will focus on dairy cattle nutrition, including pasture growing, innovative feeding methods, supplementary feeding, and breed selection.
Trainees will also have the opportunity to tour the farm. The masterclasses are organised by Vision Group, with support from Koudjis Nutrition BV, the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank and KLM Airlines.
They were initiated as part of the Best Farmer competition to allow winners to share their experiences with fellow farmers.
Among the trainers will be Dr Jolly Kabirizi, who will discuss “Feeds and Waste Management in Small-Scale Dairy Cattle Farming Systems: Using Simple Technology to Enhance Nutrition.”
Dr Moses Mwesigwa from NARO, will cover ‘mindset change as a tool to earn from dairy’, while Henry Lugolobi, the owner of Sight Farm, will talk about pasture farming as a business.
Nutrition experts from Koudjis Nutrition BV will also contribute to the training.
According to the tentative programme, farmers are expected to arrive at the farm at 9:00am, where they will be welcomed by Lugolobi.
Dr Mwesigwa’s session will start at 10:00am, followed by Dr Kabirizi.
A farm tour will then take place, before the experts address any questions from the farmers.
Attendees are advised to bring notebooks and pens to record the information.
Farm tour highlights
The farm tour will showcase several interesting aspects for farmers. With 35 cows and about 10 calves at various stages, and a visit to Sight Farm’s well-maintained dairy unit.
The farm has developed its dairy production system to increase milk yields, with a goal of reaching at least 40 litres per cow per day.
Lugolobi has collaborated with URUS, a semen processing company, to improve genetics.
“Currently, I have cows that produce up to 35 litres per day,” he says.
Farmers will learn that all the cows were born on the farm using improved genetics.
“It took time to develop my own genetic line. I sourced quality semen, and now I am seeing the results,” Lugolobi says.
Previously, his highest-yielding cow produced an average of 15 litres per day, but now he has cows that produce 35 litres daily, totalling 300 litres from all milking cows.
“I have combined good genetics with proper feeding, using grasses grown on the farm, which has significantly increased my milk yield,” boasts Lugolobi.
“Previously, I struggled with inadequate feeds, but I have since planted various types of pastures. My milk yield has improved to an average of 25 litres per cow per day.”
In addition to earning from milk, Lugolobi sells heifers and calves to other farmers.
“We sell calves for about sh4m and heifers for sh8-sh10m. These are high-quality animals with easily traceable lineage,” he says.
Lugolobi sells approximately 10 heifers per year, earning a gross of sh60m from their sale alone. Currently, the farm has several silage bunkers capable of feeding his cows for over a year.
Lugolobi also makes hay from brachiaria, which he sells to other farmers.
A 10kg bale of hay costs sh5,000. Visitors to the farm will be guided through the serene pasture fields and learn how to grow pastures.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: The 2024 edition of Best Farmer competition was launched at Lugolobi’s Sight Farm in Namulonge,
Wakiso district. Right is Lugolobi.
