Great! Here is simple but solid guidance for you as a first-time sheep farmer in Kenya — practical, affordable, and suited to Kenyan conditions. --- ✅ 1. Choose the Right Breed Your breed choice depends on your budget, climate and purpose (meat, wool, breeding). Breed Best For Climate Notes Dorper Meat Arid & Semi-arid Fast growing, hardy, expensive to start Merino Wool Cool highlands Needs good management, mostly for wool Red Maasai Disease resistance Hot & semi-arid Excellent against worms, slower growth Galla (White Somali) Meat & milk Dry regions Big body size, grows well Recommendation for a beginner: Start with Dorper or Red Maasai, depending on your area and budget. --- 🐑 2. Start Small Avoid rushing to buy a large flock. Start with 10–20 ewes and 1 good ram Learn slowly as you grow Most beginners lose sheep because they expand faster than they understand care --- 🏠 3. Housing (Very Important) Sheep don’t need luxury, but they hate cold floors and wet conditions. Basic Sheep Shed Requirements: Raised floor (wood slats or dry bed) Roof (iron sheet or thatch) Proper ventilation Dry bedding (avoid mud at all costs) Separate pens for: Ram Pregnant ewes Lambs Ideal space: 1.2m × 1.2m per adult sheep. --- 🌱 4. Feeding Sheep mainly eat pasture and hay. Grain (concentrates) is only a supplement. Daily Feeding Guide per Adult Sheep: 2–3 kg grass/hay 200–400 g supplement (e.g., maize bran, sunflower cake) Free access to clean water + salt lick Plant Napier grass and lucerne if possible — reduces feeding cost. --- 💉 5. Health Care Schedule (Simple) Routine Frequency Examples Deworming Every 2–3 months Albendazole, Levamisole Vaccination Once per year Enterotoxemia, Sheep Pox Ectoparasite control Monthly Dipping / Spraying for ticks > Tip: Rotate dewormers to avoid resistance. --- 🍼 6. Breeding Management A good ram = a good flock. Don’t compromise. One ram can serve 25–35 ewes. Gestation is 5 months. Keep records of: Mating dates Births Deaths Sales --- 💸 7. Business Side Where to Sell: Local markets: Suswa, Kiserian, Rumuruti, Garissa, Wajir Direct to butcheries (best prices) Hotels & nyama choma joints Farmers needing breeding stock #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #Call 0756623463 or whatsaap 0754688559 for assistance and enquiries - @dorpersheeps254