Samenvatting

This thesis report is a product of a study undertaken to evaluate the benefits of rearing dairy calves using calf milk replacer among the Kenyan smallholder dairy farmers. The scope of the report focused on the main question which was to determine what were the economic benefits accruing from rearing dairy calves using calf milk replacer. It entailed undertaking literature review on scientific articles on studies undertaken on small holder dairy farming in Kenya and calf rearing using whole milk and calf milk replacers. Thereafter calculate the costs of rearing calves during the birth to weaning period, make a cost and content analysis of both feeding schedules and calculate a herd size growth projection.