RevivaSoil – VumbiMavuno
Severe drought has badly affected the farm this as the dry season was much longer than expected.
Many animals in the northern parts of Kenya, both farm and wild died due to lack of food and water. It also affected Chaka Farm as the grassland completely dried up and only very poor quality dried grass was available and severely affected the cattle.
By November the cattle were in serious trouble. To provide extra vital nutrients The Chaka Farm team decided to add Vumbi Mavuno into the cattle’s drinking water. A handful was added to a bucket of clean water and stirred (Fig 1). The animals immediately came over to drink (fig 2 & 3). An additional bucket of clean water was also provided at the same time so that the animal can choose from which one to drink.
This was continued on a daily basis. Once the mineral levels had been restored the animals drank intermittently from each bucket.
Vumbi Mavuno was also applied as trias on some section of pasture (a handful per square metre).
Eventually the rains returned and slowly the pasture started to regrow. However where the Vumbi Mavuno was applied much stronger growth was achieved. See Figure 4.
Within 2 weeks after the rains arrived where the pasture with Vumbi Mavuno started to regrow. The pasture without took another 10 days or so for green growth to appear.
After 3 weeks there is sufficient growth to feed the cattle on a daily basis.
Further trials are being conducted on the pasture land but also on vegetable production on the farm.
Update January 2022
A much improved growth with Vumbi application and also improved quality of the grass is quickly allowing the cows to regain their body weight for the dry season. Compare the difference between 18th Nov 2021 and 14th Jan 2022- see Figures 5 and 6.
This is just the result of applying Vumbi Mavuno to the pasture and making available animal drinking water with added Vumbi Mavuno alongside normal drinking water.
Any excess grass will be harvested to make hay and/or silage, which can easily be stored and provide the cattle with additional nutritious food during the next dry season.