Sheep farming in Kenya has huge business potential as they are raised for meat, milk and wool production. However, there are many sheep kept by farmers across the country. In this post, I will give the number of sheep breeds at various places in Kenya.
There are eight sheep breeds that are commonly raised in various parts of Kenya. These sheep are categorized as indigenous or exotic sheep. The indigenous sheep include Red Maasai and Blackhead Persian sheep, while the exotics are Dorper, Corriedale, Merino, Romney Mash, Suffolk and Hampshire sheep.
The following are the eight best sheep breeds in Kenya:
1. Dorper Sheep
It is an improved hair sheep and is important for mutton purposes. This breed is a crossbred of Blackhead Persian and forest horn rams. It is one of the most common sheep breeds in Kenya.
Dorper sheep are hardy in that they adapt well to harsh climatic conditions. They mature faster than other ordinary sheep and are highly productive. Their mutton are of high quality since they contain low fat.
The coat colour for this breed is white body and black head. A mature male sheep weighs 65kg to 80kg while females weigh between 55kg and 65kg.
2. Merino Sheep
Merino sheep are mainly raised for wool production. They are mainly found in semi-arid and sub-humid climates in Kenya. They adapt to high rainfall grassland regions well. Merino sheep are excellent grazers and can do well in almost all climatic conditions in Kenya.
The coat colour is white, and they have fine wool. A mature male merino weighs about 100 kgs while female counterpart weighs about 60 kgs. Also, the age of females at first lambing is between 15 and 18 months.
3. Hampshire Sheep
Hampshire down sheep are large and have a coat colour of white body and black face and legs with low-quality wool. It is good for crossbreeding for upgrading purposes.
It has a high growth rate with an average size of 80kg and is quite prolific at a 125 to 150% lambing rate.
You can find this breed in the Kenyan highlands areas among the small-scale farms. In Narok, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties, it’s reared on large commercial prime mutton farms.
4. Corriedale Sheep
This sheep breed is a crossbreed of Merino sheep and Lincoln sheep. It has a dual purpose and is kept for both wool and mutton. They produce long wool. It is a docile, good mothering ability with high fertility. The age of female sheep at first lambing is 10 to 12 months.
They are hardy and adapt well to a wide range of climate conditions in Kenya, like the semi-arid areas.
5. Red Masaai Sheep
The breed is an indigenous sheep for mutton in marginal areas because they are hardy. The coat colour is distinguished. They are reared by the Masaai people and their neighbors under nomadic pastoralism.
You will find a huge population in Kajiado, Narok, Laikipia, Samburu, and West Pokot.
The age of a ewe at first lambing is between 14 and 23 months. A mature male weighs about 45 kg, while a mature female weighs 35 kg.
6. Blackhead Persian Sheep
It is a fat-tailed breed of sheep with red or black hair, sometimes with white markings, raised for mutton. Their heads are entirely black, just as their name suggests. It is common in the harsh conditions of the North Eastern Province. The breed is an example of a hair sheep.
It is mainly kept in pastoral systems because it is good for walking long distances in search of pasture and water.
The age of female sheep at first lambing is between 15 and 18 months. Mature rams weigh about 68 kg, while ewes weigh 52 kg.
7. Suffolk Sheep
It is a large sheep, white-colored with a black face and black legs free of wool. Suffolk rams are commonly used as terminal sires on crossbred ewes to produce fast-growing lambs for slaughter.
8. Romney Mash Sheep
It is a dual-purpose breed of sheep raised for wool and mutton. This breed can survive in marshy and wet areas because of their resistance to foot rot. The hooves are black and hardy, thus preventing the entry of pathogens.
They have a lambing rate of 150% and the average age of female sheep at first lambing is between 15 and 18 months.
Related Articles
How Long Does a Sheep Take to Mature in Kenya?
