A retired teacher and livestock farmer, Dunstan Amakove from Kakamega County, sought advice on increasing his cows' milk production. Veterinary surgeon Dr. Othieno, head of communications at Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Kenya, addressed the various factors influencing milk yield.

• The primary determinants of milk production include breed (e.g., Friesian), nutrition, stress levels, udder health (e.g., mastitis), general animal health, and the cow's age.
• Poor nutrition, including insufficient energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, is a key factor impacting milk quantity and quality, alongside inadequate water intake.
• Stress, illness, fright, and slow or incomplete milking can inhibit oxytocin production, the milk let-down hormone, thereby reducing milk flow. The average productive lifespan of a dairy animal is around four years.