Rabbit Business lucrative

Five years ago, the probability of finding domesticated quails in central Kenya was virtually nil.

For years, the residents believed that the mid-sized birds, which are part of the pheasant family could not be tamed. They even coined a local saying expressing just how improbable it would prove to pull off such a feat.

But not any more. According to the latest Annual Livestock Production (ALP) report, farmers in the province have been breaking new ground in the rearing of animals that have long been traditionally shunned.

"There are now 25 quails domesticated in the region up from none in 2006," says Nyeri-based provincial livestock production officer, Theuri Warugongo.

Because quails nest on the ground, farmers have discovered it is now worth their while to keep them for their eggs.

Adventurous farmers

And for the more adventurous farmers, they have expanded into the lucrative business of keeping ostriches, guinea fowls and even rabbits, whose population in captivity has also risen significantly in the past five years.

Mr Peter Njogu Githinji shows off a Fleming giant rabbit at his farm in Nyeri, on Wednesday. Photo: George Mulala/Standard

But in terms of popularity, nothing beats the craze of rabbit rearing that has swept the region in recent years. This is notwithstanding the fact that for a long time, the activity was normally associated with prepubescent boys.

Demand for rabbit meat is at an all-time high due to attractive market prices, hence the rush to cash in. The ALP report puts the number of rabbits at 212,959 in the province up from 79,769 five years ago. Rabbit meat fetches anything from Sh300 to Sh500 per kilo in the region, but breeding stock could sell for as much as Sh5,000 an animal.

However, the unavailability of good quality breeding stock has meant that the number of farmers who are engaged in the trade is still relatively low.

Declining land holding in the region (the average household lives and farms on an average of 0.7 hectares) has made it attractive for farmers to opt for the less demanding dairy goats.

Source of milk

These have become a popular source of milk especially for home consumption and now make up one out of every four goats reared in the province.

There are now more than 100,000 dairy goats, double the 53,575 last estimated five years ago. These are kept by 16,000 farmers in 1,290 groups.

The amount of goat milk sold through the groups was 48,182 litres last year compared to 31,835 litres two years ago. However, prices have remained steady at Sh40 a litre.

However, the unavailability of good quality breeding stock coupled with the high cost of the few animals available has played a big part in curtailing growth in the goat rearing industry.

Zebu cows

The report says there has been an increase in all livestock numbers except for Zebu cows, whose numbers are declining as more farmers embrace milk production over beef production.

This turn of events — coupled with favourable weather conditions last year — has seen the average milk production rise to 7kg per cow every day.

The dairy industry is still the leading enterprise with nearly 70 per cent of farmers keeping an average of 2-3 cows under the zero grazing system. The main feed still remains napier grass, which is complemented with maize stover (the leaves and stalks of the plant), cut bailed grass, horticultural and poultry waster, and commercial feeds.

Last year, Central Province produced 753 million litres of milk worth Sh19 billion compared to 641 million litres worth Sh16 billion in 2009.

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