Agribusiness: Sheep Farming

Everyone desires to have a cool life that exhibits financial freedom. Besides formal employment, one can engage in many other business ventures. The start-up capital, however, is usually a big hurdle for many people. But from my experience, one can start sheep farming with as low as 3000 Kenya Shillings. I interacted with someone who has done it and he gave me the following revelation. In 2015, soon after clearing my college education, it dawned on me that I was now a grown-up and had to fend for myself. The student privileges were withdrawn, but as a man, I had to survive; that is how society has taught us to be. I bought my first sheep for 3000 shillings, and fortunate enough, two months later, I had a lamb. The journey has been smooth despite the few challenges experienced. Since that time, the numbers have increased, of course, due to their multiplication and buying more. The venture is profitable and is one of the easiest to engage in if you iron out a smart plan. Currently, one grown sheep Molo breed, a local breed whose origin can be traced to Hampshire Down, Corriadale, and Romney Marsh in Kenya goes for between 8000 to 10, 000. Dorper breeds have more returns, but their start-up is also a bit costly. A fully grown Dorper breed can sell at as high as Kes. 40, 000. The gestation period for a sheep is around 15 days which is five months. With this, it is possible to have two lambs every year, with proper timing. If you have 10, then by the end of the year, you will have say 25. For a sheep to mature, it takes around 12 months. Now if you give yourself two years, then sell 20 of the sheep at an average price of 8, 000, then you will have a cool 160, 000, and still remain with more than 25 in your yard.

One major challenge that caught me off-guard though was the death of the lambs. We had no idea what caused the deaths because it all started as diarrhea and the first reaction was to treat diarrhoea. After consulting a vet officer, we realized that we had been treating the symptom instead of the disease, which we later came to know as pulpy kidney. The disease took many lambs, with the number totaling more than twenty. Despite that, it has been a great journey. In our next issue, we shall discuss the nitty-gritty of sheep farming. The dos and don'ts of this beautiful venture.