Quick answers
- When should I buy hay in Kenya?
- Hay is cheapest soon after harvest and dearest late in the dry season. Buying and storing before the dry months usually saves money.
- How do I plan feed for the dry season?
- Multiply your animals by daily feed needs and by the number of dry weeks, add 10% for waste, and order early.
Every year the pattern repeats. Rains end, pasture dries, and farmers rush to buy hay at the same time. Prices climb and good bales get scarce. A little planning moves you ahead of that rush.
1. Count the dry weeks
In much of central Kenya the main dry spells run from about January to March and from July to September, but it varies by area and by year. Look back at the last two or three years on your own farm and note how long you were short of grass.
2. Count what each animal eats
Use the figures in our hay guide or the feed calculator. For a planning rule of thumb: about half a bale of hay a day for a milking cow on hay as main roughage, and about half to three-quarters of a bale a week for each goat or sheep.
3. Add a margin
Add 10% for waste and another 10% in case the rains come late. Running out three weeks early is the costliest mistake.
4. Check your storage
Before ordering, make sure you have a dry, raised, roofed space for the bales. Read our storage guide if you are building or fixing a store.
5. Order in loads, not handfuls
- A full lorry spreads the transport cost over hundreds of bales.
- Neighbours or dairy groups can share one load and split it on arrival.
- Booking ahead lets us plan supply and give you a firm date.
Talk to us a month before you expect to run short. We can quote a lorry load and agree a delivery date while supply is easy.