Sheep Find New Business Opportunity in Marakwet West as Mutton Demand Grows

For Gladys Kanda, the sheep grazing around her farm in Kapsowar represent more than livestock. Each animal is part of an investment that can grow over time while providing a source of income when household needs arise.

Kanda has kept sheep for several years and says the enterprise has become increasingly attractive because the animals mature and reproduce relatively quickly compared with larger livestock. Twin births can also help farmers expand their flocks without constantly purchasing new animals.

“Sheep grow faster and give birth faster. They can also give birth to twins at a go, so the economic benefits are attractive,” Kanda said.

The ability to retain female sheep for breeding while selling mature animals has allowed farmers to build their flocks gradually. Kanda says farmers can continue increasing their livestock numbers while generating income from animals that are ready for sale.

“When the animals multiply quickly, and there is a ready market for them, the farmer can keep increasing the flock while earning an income from the animals sold,” she said.

Sheep also offer an option for farmers working with limited land. Compared with cattle, the animals require less space and can be integrated into households that are already engaged in crop farming or other income-generating activities.

For some farmers, the flock also serves as a form of livestock savings. An animal can be retained for breeding and sold later when school fees, farm expenses or other financial needs arise.

Kiprono Yator, another sheep farmer in the area, said the enterprise allows farmers to build livestock wealth gradually without waiting several years before making sales.

“A farmer does not have to wait for many years before benefiting from sheep. Once the flock starts increasing, some animals can be sold while others are retained for breeding,” Yator said.

The growing interest in sheep farming is also being supported by demand for mutton in Kapsowar town and surrounding areas.

Local butcher Wilson Koech said sheep are well suited to the size of the local market because their carcasses provide quantities of meat that can be sold relatively quickly.

“Slaughtering a cow is a waste because the population in the town is small. That can lead to wastage, with the meat remaining unsold and eventually going bad. Mutton is a better option because it moves fast in the market,” Koech said.

The demand creates a link between farmers, traders, butchers and consumers. Farmers raise the animals, traders purchase mature sheep, butchers process them for the market, and continued consumer demand provides an incentive for farmers to maintain or expand production.

Kanda, however, cautions that sheep farming requires deliberate management if farmers are to benefit from the enterprise. Feeding, access to clean water, proper housing, disease prevention and good breeding practices all influence the health and productivity of a flock.

She also advises farmers to avoid selling all their best animals simply because of immediate financial needs. Good breeding stock should be retained to ensure the flock continues reproducing.

“You have to know which animals to sell and which ones to keep for breeding. If you sell everything, you will have to start again,” she said.

Yator believes better management and selective breeding could further improve returns for farmers as sheep keeping becomes more commercial.

For smallholders who may not have the land or capital required for cattle production, he sees sheep as a more accessible livestock enterprise that can be built gradually.

The experience of farmers in Kapsowar illustrates how livestock choices can be shaped by both production characteristics and local consumer demand. Sheep can reproduce relatively quickly, require less space than cattle and provide farmers with animals that can be sold when cash is needed.

At the same time, a consistent market for mutton gives farmers an outlet for mature animals and supports businesses further along the value chain.

For Kanda, the business remains straightforward: maintain a healthy breeding flock, allow it to grow and sell selected animals when the market or household needs demand.

As more farmers in Marakwet West explore livestock enterprises that can fit within smaller farms while generating periodic income, sheep are increasingly becoming part of that calculation.