The Makongi Ayshire herd was developed from a mixture of the Sahiwal herd that was inherited when the farm was purchased in 1970 as well as a number of heifers and bulls that were imported from Scotland in the early 1970’s.
Some of these heifers include Pant Wilma and Pant Future Choice that came from the Blackadder lineage. These have produced a lot of progeny that have today come to be known as the Kenyan Ayrshire.
The breeding program was later developed with imported semen from the UK and Canda and since 2008 the focus has been on using Scandinavian genetics with a particular focus on the increased capacity that the Nordic Reds bring. We have been using Swedish Red and Finnish Ayrshire Bulls which average 8600 liters per lactation in their home countries combined with good health traits and longevity.
Owing to the great success of the Makongi Ayrshire, Reuben Chesire was named Ayrshire World President from 1980-1984, the first African to hold this prestigious position and Ayrshire World Conference was held in Kenya owing to this success of the Ayrshire. It was only 32 years later that the conference returned to Africa to South Africa in 2012.
Makongi has sold numerous Bulls over the years to the National A.I. Station and at present has over 11 Bulls at the National A.I. Station including famous Bulls such as Reuben’s Boy and Makongi Blackadder. Makongi Bulls have also been sold to AI Stations in Tanzania and its heifers across East Africa and as far as Cameroon. Makongi is a habitual winner at most of the livestock shows in Kenya.
It is this pedigree that has led to the Ayrshire being synonymous with the Chesire’s in Kenya.