Some constraints to small ruminant production among small-scale farmers in Laikipia West

Abstract

A sample of 65 small-scale farms was selected from two of the subdivided ranches in the arid and semi-arid lands of west Laikipia. The objective of the study was to determine among other things, some of the constraints to small ruminant production in the study area. The study reveals that the major constraints to small ruminant production were diseases (mainly pneumonia and helminthiasis) and shortage of water for livestock. Insufficient grazing was not seen by the respondents as a constraint although observations showed that the area was overgrazed, especially the unoccupied farms.