What you must do to get high yields from sheep and beans

What you need to know:

  • I am very excited to learn there are more-improved high-yielding beans variety like Chelalang and Tasha. I have three-quarter of an acre in Banita, Nakuru and would like to plant Chelalang variety around mid-August.

SHEEP FARMING
Our farm is in Ndaragua, Nyandarua County. We currently have Merino sheep but they offer little economic value. We want to sell them all and begin taking sheep farming with the seriousness it deserves. We want to know what sheep breed will earn the most returns and what rearing practices we need to adopt and where is the potential market. I am also considering rearing rabbits, what is your advice?
Kavoi Maina

Ndaragua is in Nyandarua County in the north, where it borders Laikipia County. Climatic conditions of the area are an amalgamation of both the wet conditions characteristic of Nyandarua and hot conditions of the Laikipia County. Initially, Merino sheep were kept for their wool, which over time has lost market due to importation of cheap clothes. Compared to other breeds, it is relatively low in mutton production consequently lowering expected income.

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Oljoro Orok sub station has breeding stock for Corriedale and Hampshire Down where you can further inquire to purchase stock. Corriedale is a dual purpose breed, being a cross of Merino and Lincoln sheep. When well-managed, it is a good producer of both wool and meat.

On the other hand, Hampshire Down is a meat sheep and is also a crossbreed of Hampshire and South Down breeds of UK. Both the breeds are good grazers and can do well in climatic conditions and terrain in Ndaragua. Mutton market is readily available from local and external butchers abundant in Nyandarua and Laikipia. Rabbits will also do well in Nyandarua and its surrounding.

Wangui Chege,
Egerton University
[email protected]

NEW BEAN VARIETIES

Of the three new bean varieties from Egerton University, which would do well in Nyahururu and how many kilos per acre? Gacanja

Egerton has three new bean varieties namely Chelalang, Tasha and Ciankui for medium and high potential areas.

In slightly high potential areas like Molo and Nyahururu, we recommend you plant Chelalang. For an acre, you will need to plant 25kg, costing Sh250 per kilo and will yield between 800 to 1,000kg if you manage it well by controlling weeding and spraying against insects.

Prof Paul Kimurto,
Director of Agro-science Park
Egerton University

I am very excited to learn there are more-improved high-yielding beans variety like Chelalang and Tasha. I have three-quarter of an acre in Banita, Nakuru and would like to plant Chelalang variety around mid-August. How much seeds would I need for this acreage? What’s the best spacing and where else in Nakuru can I get the seeds other than Egerton University? 

Sammy Kimotho

Egerton varieties are now popular among farmers and seed growers under contract farming after signing an agreement with university through Agro-science Park to enable Kephis inspection.

On an acre in Banita, we recommend you grow Chelalang or Tasha and for your three quarters of an acre and you need 22kg at a cost of Sh250 per kilo. Egerton bean seeds are distributed by Mea Ltd Nakuru, Menengai Veterinary Nakuru and Faida Seeds. Please Get in touch with me in case you have a problem on 0725309162.

Prof Paul Kimurto
Director Agro-science Park
Egerton University

WHERE DO I GET QUALITY SEEDS?

I have quarter an acre. I have subdivided a section for sukuma wiki and I want the rest to plant traditional vegetables, especially managu, cowpeas and sagaa. Where can I get high quality seeds.
James Ongeti

Kenya Seed Company would be most ideal for good quality seeds of vegetables
Seeds of Gold Team
Egerton University

Agriculture course

Kindly furnish me with a course that can help me learn about dairy, poultry and potato farming and any other course that would assist in production and trade.

Collins Odhiss

The suitable programme for you depending on your qualifications will be diploma or BSc in Animal Sciences, Agricultural Extension and Education or Agriculture, all of which are offered at Egerton University. For further details, kindly visit the university website at www.egerton.ac.ke.
F N Kigen, Animal Science Department, Egerton University [email protected]

Dairy farming
I am keen to start dairy farming in Kabarak where I have an acre. Already, I have established underground water tank and bought three Ayrshire heifers and five dairy goats for a zero grazing unit with a store to hold 500 bales of hay.

I will be selling the heifers soon. My house, underground tank, zero grazing unit and hay store sit on quarter acre. Kindly I need your assistance in the following areas.

a. Where to get Ayrshire breeds and Saanen goats of high genetic potential that can yield between 20 to 25 litres and 2 litres of milk per day respectively.
b. To establish a standard zero grazing unit and milking parlour for cows and goats.

c. How to utilise my small piece of land to plant animal fodder.

d. How to make bunkers for feeds.

e. Where to fetch good price for milk (both cows and goats). Currently I am told one litre of milk fetches Sh50 in Nakuru and a litre of goat’s milk goes at Sh75.

Jepi

I will first direct you to Aryshire Cattle Breeders Association of Kenya offices housed at Kenya Breeders Association in Nakuru ASK grounds where you can obtain details on where to get excellent cattle. Again, kindly contact Nyanza Dairy Goat Association who are the breeders of Saanen goats in Kenya.

About construction of a modern zero grazing unit for cattle and goats, maximising pasture production and construction of feed bunkers, you will need to consult an animal scientist who will visit your farm and guide you on both the site and appropriate ways and technologies to maximise output from your farm and animals.

The animal scientist may also offer ideas on how to add value to your dairy products to maximise returns and profitability from your farming. Such animal scientists are at Egerton University, Department of Animal Sciences or your sub county livestock production office.

Wangui, James Chege
Department of Animal Sciences,

Egerton University
[email protected]

I need Normande or Girlando cattle

Please advise on where I can get the Normande X, Girlando, Sahiwal, Zebu, Friesian or any other heifer crossbreeds that can survive in dry places, with higher productivity. I would be so grateful for your assistance and guidance on this.

Philip

Kindly note that there are no commercial farms producing sufficient Normande or Girlando cattle in Kenya for sale but one can get the Sahiwal cattle from Kari Naivasha Farm and other ranches in Laikipia, Kajiado and Nakuru where you can also source crossbreds of Zebu with Boran, and Friesian with Boran.

It is important to give your farms location for easy direction. I advise you to visit the offices of Kenya Breeders Association in Nakuru ASK grounds where you can obtain further details on these cattle breeds.

Musyoka Duncan Mbai, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University
[email protected]