Information
Kenya is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator. With the Indian Ocean to its south-east, it is bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya has a land area of 580,000 km2 and a human population of a 43 million.
Kenya has tremendous topographical diversity and within the borders of a single country, one can find savannahs rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow-capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats with endless opportunities for adventure.
Agriculture and forestry are by far Kenya’s most important economic sector in terms of domestic production and the livestock sector contributes about 12% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 40% to the agricultural GDP and employs 50% of agricultural labor force. Livestock production plays an important economic and socio-cultural role among many communities in Kenya. The key livestock subsectors are beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, camels, pigs and poultry.
Dairy cattle are estimated at 3.5 million heads. The common dairy breeds are Ayrshire, Friesian, Guernsey, Jersey and cross-breeds. In 2008, milk production was estimated at 5.1 billion litres worth 1 billion USD.
Beef cattle are estimated at 9 million. The main beef species are East African Zebu, Boran, Sahiwal and cross-breeds. The country produces about 320,000 tonnes of beef worth 730 Million USD annually. In the East African sub-region, Kenya ranks second after Sudan in both animal product yields and value.
Sheep and goatspopulation estimated 27.7 million goats and 17.1 million sheep. Annual mutton and chevon production is estimated at 84 000 tonnes valued at about 165 Million USD.
Chicken population is estimated 32 million chickens, approx. 80 percent of which are indigenous while 20 percent are commercial layers and broilers. Other poultry types such as turkey, duck, pigeon, ostrich, guinea fowl and quail are becoming increasingly important. Annually, the country produces about 20 tonnes of poultry meat worth 40 Million USD and 1.3 billion eggs worth 115 Million USD.
Pig rearing is now relatively well-established in Kenya. It is estimated that the country produces 12 000 tonnes of pork worth 14 Million USD annually.
Camel keeping is mainly practiced in northern Kenya. The country is home to a camel population of 2.9 million which produce 7 000 tonnes of meat worth 12 Million USD and 200 million litres of milk worth 24 Million USD annually.
Livestock Population-
Chicken -32 M, Dairy -3.5 M, Beef -9 M, Goat-27.7 M, Sheep- 17 M, Camel -2.9 M & Pig -0.3 M.