They can be confined to hutches, and can be raised in urban as well as rural areas. Prison farms have turned to rabbit production as a means of increasing protein consumption amongst prisoners without having to invest in the high quantities of feed that other animals, such as cows, would require. Characterization of rabbit production systems in kenya j k serem 1, m m wanyoike 1, c k gachuiri 1, s k mailu 2, p k gathumbi 1, r n mwanza 3, n kiarie 1, d k borter 3. For instance, rabbits can be used for wool fur, for their skins, as pets, and as laboratory animals. African organic agriculture training manual introduction. Farmer perceptions on indigenous pig farming in kakamega. This is a significant change considering that for many years rabbit production in kenya was confined to the youth, mainly 4k club members and young farmers. Understand the general requirements for keeping rabbits in malawi 2. Livestock production officer kenya market led dairy supply chain project job description heifer international is an equal opportunity employer. Farmer perceptions on indigenous pig farming 47 the family pig, but the selling again depended on who owned the pig, whether it was a child, wife or husband, and who was at home when the pig buyer came around looking for pigs to buy. However, there is an appreciation of the fact, although the manufacturing sector in kenya is the largest, in terms of growth trends other countries in east africa are growing much faster. Kenya has the largest and most sophisticated manufacturing sector.
Factors influencing the growth of agribusiness enterprises in kenya, international journal of social sciences and entrepreneurship 1 3, 340350 abstract. Rabbits in kenya are mainly for meat production 10 and their skin by products from the slaughterhouse 11. The installed capacity of the proposed factory is 2. Turkeys belong to the group of birds closely related to the domesticated chicken, pea fowl guinea fowls and quails. So let rabbit farming become your source of livelihood because its returns are good. Rabbit production guidelines for the malawi prison service. Assessment of potential opportunities for growth, value chain finance centre kenya, 2009. Pdf possibilities to reduce feed conversion in rabbits pdf role of. As a result commercial rabbit farming in kenya is becoming popular day by day. Ministry of agriculture livestock and fisheries cathedral road,nairobi p. Its headquarter is located in thika kenya, housed in thika west district livestock production office. The following topics are discussed in this publication. Ecochicks poultry will help you examine the financial viability of establishing a livestock feed processing plant in kenya.
Rabbit meat contain more protein and less in fat than beef, turkey, pork and even chickens meat. Below is the cost estimate prepared by neo chicks for raising 100 improved kienyeji chicks up to the time they start laying the eggs. Although rabbit meat showcasing is yet to make strides, there is trust that with the developing attention to the advantages of rabbit meat, it will be possible for rabbit meat. Major challenges facing agricultural sector in kenya. Rabbit breeders association of kenya rabak is an established association of small scale farmers which was registered in 2009 under the societies act. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified. Productivity in different cattle production systems in kenya. In 2010 and 2011, fibl and its partners in africa developed the manual and adjoining training tools. Commercial rabbit production rabbits have been produced for 3,000 years. If well managed, rabbit farming has the potential to change the life and employ several kenyans.
World bank, 2016 kenyas growth trajectory has been underpinned by various sectors, ranging from agriculture and. Cattle are kept as an important source of livelihood in many kenyan farming households whilst also having cultural and social value. Rabbit production is one of the enterprises with a high capability and potential and room for growth in the. A case of rabbit farming in kiambu county godfrey n. Rabbit production guidelines for the malawi prison service rabbits are produced in prison farms for meat consumption. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of keeping rabbits 3. At the same time, a 4h rabbit project can provide an important life skill learning experience.
The purpose of study was to investigate the factors that influence adoption of commercial rabbit production among farmers in nakuru district kenya. Ssllp training notes for community animal health workers. The year book of statistics is produced by affas department of research, planning and strategy and is compiled using data and information from affa. Brief on sheep and goats in kenya 7 brief on sheep and goats in kenya f k kamau assistant director, head of the sheep and goat branch, ministry of agriculture and livestock development, nairobi, kenya introduction the livestock industry, which is an integral part of the agricultural sector, plays a major role in the economic development of kenya. Pdf characterization of rabbit production systems in kenya. Livestock production officer in kenya kenya nairobi. Today they are raised for meat, research, pets, show, and pelts. Affa year book of statistics 2014 is the first edition of the annual statistical bulletin produced in furtherance of the authoritys mandate under the affa act 20 and the crops act 20. It is the leading economic sector, accounting for 25% of the gross domestic product gdp. The type found in back yard production systems in east and central africa is the small breasted turkey.
Rabbit breeders association of kenya rabak empowering. It should be placed near a house wall fence to provide shade and protection from sunlight, rain and wind. The farmers have since constructed a diffused light storeroom and proposed a crop storage facility to accommodate the increased potato production. This is a massive change considering that for a long time rabbit production in kenya was left the young people, for the most part, 4k club members, and youthful farmers. Top pig farmer shares what makes his farm tick daily nation. Gross margin is the difference between the total revenue tr and the total variable cost tvc per. Apsk was formed in 1968 and registered as a society in 1969 as a branch of the east african animal production society. They are indigenous to north and south america and were brought to africa by the colonial administration in the 18 th century.
About rabak rabbit breeders association of kenya rabak. Agriculture experts from kenya and the university of wisconsin at madison trained them to identify and discard diseased potatoes, effectively doubling the annual crop yields of this dietary staple. Rabbit project reference manual chad wootton r aising rabbits is fun. Rabbit breeding has been touted as a viable avenue for income generation for thousands of farmers around the east african region. General characteristics of rabbits session objectives. Rabbit meat is one of the best source of protein and healthier than other meats.
Kindly note that the calculation are based on the current market prices which may vary with time and with your. The contribution of livestock to the kenyan economy, igad livestock policy initiative, 2011. International journal of economics and finance vol. Note that while too much sunlight may be stressful, too little is also undesirable because the hutch may become damp, there will also be reduced. Rabbit production has experienced a steady growth in the past few years, with gender biases associated with its production fading away. Protein from white meat is derived from sea foods, pork. Comprehensive study of the livestock marketing system in samburu district, kenya examining the unique revenue sharing model between the county council and livestock marketing associations in the district undertaken by. The rabbit production industry has recorded growth in kenya over the last couple of years and farmers.
Data on production parameters were collected through a systematic literature search. The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive at leamose poultry farm is a flock of multicoloured indigenous chicken darting joyously from side to side inside a wire mesh fenced compound. For a long time, commercial rabbit farming in kenya for meat production has not been taken seriously. Subsaharan africa or by location within countries e. Karanja student, jomo kenyatta university of agriculture and technology citation. The future of rabbit farming in kenya looks promising. Apsk is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to bring together individuals, groups, institutions orand other organizations with interest in animal production in kenya mainly professionals in animal production. Real gdp growth rate of kenya and its regional peers %, 202016f source. As part of efforts to build the capacity of pastoralists and livestock sector stakeholders to respond and adapt to these changes in climate change in rangelands such as kajiados and other livestock production systems in eastern africa, the international livestock research institute ilri is implementing the programme for climate smart livestock pcsl in ethiopia, kenya and uganda. Pig sector kenya food and agriculture organization. The skins are disposed and there has been a challenge to dispose them 12. Paper presented at the seminar on dairy farm management at the 25th international dairy congress, 2124 september. Authors details samuel maina githigia is a senior lecturer at the faculty of veterinary medicine of the university of nairobi and a member of a research group from the government ministries, kenya agricultural research institute and.