Commercialisation Of Sheep Farming Venture Through Estrous Synchronisation In Laikipia.
Updated on: Feb 27, 2023
The Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Laikipia County in partnership with the Agriculture Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) is keen on ensuring that sheep and goats farming become a commercially oriented enterprise in Laikipia.
To achieve this ASDSP is carrying out estrous synchronization in sheep and goats under the innovation concept targeting thirteen self help groups along the value chain .
Estrous synchronization is the manipulation of the female's estrous cycle by use of hormones so that they are bred at the same time.
The department visited Salama Salima self help group in Salama ward, a beneficiary of the programme. Their first group of sheep were administered with hormones in mid August 2022 and 80% conceived at the same time and all lambed in January, 2023.
Through Estrous synchronization farmers are able to produce many lambs/kids at the same time.
Advantages:
1. Farmers produce for certain market (i.e. as per market demand)
2. Farmers can time lambing/kidding to coincide with feeds availability
3. Easy management of flock of the same age (i.e. vaccinations, deworming etc)
To achieve this ASDSP is carrying out estrous synchronization in sheep and goats under the innovation concept targeting thirteen self help groups along the value chain .
Estrous synchronization is the manipulation of the female's estrous cycle by use of hormones so that they are bred at the same time.
The department visited Salama Salima self help group in Salama ward, a beneficiary of the programme. Their first group of sheep were administered with hormones in mid August 2022 and 80% conceived at the same time and all lambed in January, 2023.
Through Estrous synchronization farmers are able to produce many lambs/kids at the same time.
Advantages:
1. Farmers produce for certain market (i.e. as per market demand)
2. Farmers can time lambing/kidding to coincide with feeds availability
3. Easy management of flock of the same age (i.e. vaccinations, deworming etc)
