S. African sheep are a hit in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya - The animal's striking black head and white body make it easy to identify from afar as it grazes in a field.

The sheep, known as Dorper, a breed developed in South Africa, has become a sensation among many Kenyan farmers, especially in the dry areas, because it is adapted to the changing climate and offers more returns from sale for its meat.

Farmers in the rangelands of the east African nation are replacing their local breeds that include Red Maasai with the larger Dorper sheep.

From Narok to Kajiado, Makueni, Machakos and parts of the dry northern Kenyan rangelands, the Dorper sheep is taking the pride of place on sheep farms.

Moses Oletip, a sheep keeper on the border of Kajiado and Makueni counties, said that he embraced the Dorper sheep after learning of its resilience from fellow farmers.

"I was surprised that even during times of drought when pasture is scarce, the Dorper sheep still retains its big body. This is good for the farmer because it fetches more in the market. Most buyers tend to offer less money for animals that have small body frames," Oletip said recently.

The Dorper is a crossbreed between the Persian ewe and the Dorset Horn ram, both from South Africa, noted Paul Oduor, an animal health specialist from Egerton University in Kenya.

A grown-up Dorper ram weighs about 150 kilograms, a weight that exceeds that of local breeds.

In the market, a Dorper ewe fetches about 30,000 shillings ($300) and a ram up to $500. An individual of a local breed goes for as little as $70.

The weather patterns in Kenya have changed radically as the east African nation grapples with effects of climate change.

The rains are becoming scarcer, forcing Kenyan farmers, especially those in the rangelands, to become smarter to continue reaping from livestock rearing.

While some farmers are importing the sheep from farms in South Africa, others are buying them from Dorper breeding farms now set up in Kenya.

"We imported our Dorper sheep from South Africa and our goal is to breed them to increase the numbers so that we can start selling them for meat," Paul Sosoika, a manager at Osiligi Farm in Kajiado County, said.

In the county, Arroi Dorpers Farm is one of the places where farmers can buy sheep for rearing or breeding, with the animal springing up business opportunities.

The animal was developed by South African scientists years ago for the country's extensive arid regions, and introduced in the east African nation by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization about a decade ago.

However, it is only until recently when the weather pattern so unpredictable that Kenyan farmers started to adopt the sheep.

"The good thing with the Dorper sheep is that it has a lengthy breeding period, survives on little grass, gains weight faster," said Oduor.

Xinhua