About 3km from Eldoret town along Kisumu Road sits EK Farm, one of the most successful Dorper Sheep breeding farms in the country.
The farm, which also has a branch in Narok’s Olulung’a Ngoi Ngoi area, is owned by Evans Kibor, a farmer who successfully forged a career in farming after quitting banking.
According to Kibor, EK Farm primarily specializes in the breeding of Dorper sheep as well as dairy goat and dog breeding. His farm hosts various Dorper breeds, including the white-head and the black-head Dorper.
”We mainly do pure Dorper sheep breeding, but we have also specialized in dairy goat farming. We have Savanna goats crossbreeded with Boers from South Africa. We also do dog breeding, including German Shepherds and the Boerboel,’’ said Kibor.
The farmer notes that, unlike other sheep breeds, Dorpers have superior characteristics, including faster growth rate, resistance to diseases as well as good converters of feeds into energy.
”They can also survive harsh climatic conditions and have a huge body weight, and also, when slaughtered, they have a big carcass weight compared to other sheep varieties,’’ he adds, noting that the animals are easy to manage.
Dorper Sheep: A highly profitable venture few people know or talk about
Kibor revealed he started the venture in 2016 with only five animals bought locally but has since multiplied his herd to 300 animals.
Currently, he imports his stock from South Africa. He notes that the secret to a successful Dorper breeding is getting the right breed.
His animals are housed in clean, well-constructed structures that promise comfort to the animals. Kibor practices the zero grazing method and feeds his animals with hay, silage, and salt supplements.
He encouraged farmers seeking to venture into Dorper farming to occasionally vaccinate and deworm the animals to keep off diseases.
The animal has a huge market available both locally and internationally, and its meat is the most sought-after as it is tender compared to other animals.
A farmer can either sell his stock to breeders or to butchers. Kibor sells his animals to breeders at between Sh20,000 to Sh30,000 for ewe, while a mature ram goes for upto Sh100,000.
”We have two categories for the Rams. The Rams from our local ewes but from an imported Ram we sell at between Sh40,000 to Sh50,000. Then the Rams from this imported breed we sell at Sh100,000.’’ Kibor explained.