Socio-economic, food and nutrient intake factors and nutritional status indicators associated with successful Livestock Development Programmes in Western Kenya

Livestock projects were established to improve household food security and the nutritional status of household members by increasing the consumption of dairy products. Dairy farming dominates the livestock contribution to household economies and is one of the highest deliverer of the per capita milk availability in sub-Saharan Africa. Effort was been made to identify factors that associated with the success of dairy programmes by comparing beneficiary and non-beneficiary households of a dairy project on selected household variables in Kenya. Successful dairying was associated with increased; expenditure of time and income expended in the dairy enterprise, on veterinary services, and in knowledge on dairy management; increased consumption of milk and milk products and green leafy vegetables; increased intake of protein, vitamin A. The identification of household factors that were improved by dairy projects had promising returns for sustainable dairying, improved food and nutrient intake in households, and nutritional status of women and their preschool children. Inclusion of livestock as a policy issue in national goals and objectives could result in improved nutritional status and improved living standards.