Sheep Population in African Countries

Nigeria had the largest sheep population in Africa as of 2020, with roughly 48 million heads. Ethiopia and Sudan followed, each with a sheep stock of 43 million and 41 million heads, respectively. That same year, Africa had around 418 million heads of sheep, one of the major species raised.

Sheep population of African Countries in 2020 

Sheep Farming in Nigeria

Small ruminant population by geographic zone

Sheep production is an important component of the Nigerian livestock industry. Sheep represent about 60% of the total grazing domestic livestock in Nigeria. These animals display a unique ability to adapt and survive in areas where they are found and consequently their wide geographical distribution in Nigeria. Sheep supplies meat, milk, wool, skin, and other products and serves as a flexible financial reserve for the rural population as well as plays other socio-cultural roles in the customs and traditions of many Nigerian societies.

In Nigeria, the keeping of sheep also serves as an investment alternative and a source of additional income for the owners. The majority of the sheep population in the country is owned by small-holder rural livestock farmers. Sheep and goats constitute a good source of family income and livelihood, assets, and agricultural resources for smallholder farmers.

Small ruminants in Nigeria have been reported to be prolific and need only short gestation periods to increase flock size. This, therefore, makes the traditional small ruminant production system a low-input but high-output enterprise with predictable profitability and economic returns. Sheep contribute enormously to the protein requirements of most developing countries. In Sub- Saharan Africa, sheep provide almost 30% of the meat consumed and around 16% of the milk produced. Sheep and goats contribute about 35% of the total animal meat production in Nigeria. This ranks small ruminants as the second most important suppliers of meat protein to the population after cattle.

Ewe with her lambs in Nigeria

The sheep production system is predominantly extensive and semi-intensive in the study area. Under these systems of production, inputs into veterinary health care and the nutrition of animals are grossly inadequate. This coupled with the prolonged dry season means that sheep are inadequately fed culminating in malnutrition and limiting the ability of these animals to bear and foster lambs. Major constraints such as the high cost of feed, seasonality of feeds, and inadequate extension service that sheep owners faced and militate against their ability to manage their sheep, so also were the possible solutions like better extension services, subsidised veterinary drugs and soft loans that could help the farmers alleviate these constraints.

Industry snapshot:

• Nigeria has the largest small ruminant herd in Africa – followed by, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad and Algeria.
• There are 73.8 million goats and 42.1 million sheep – mainly indigenous breeds.
• Small ruminants are kept by smallholder farmers for meat, hides, wool and, to a lesser extent, milk.
• The small ruminant population is concentrated in the North of Nigeria.
• The gross production value of goat and sheep meat in 2020 was US $393.1 and $88.08 million, respectively.

Sheep are simple to rear and manage because they stick together and you don’t have to chase them around. They mature before their peers. Ewes mature at a young age of 6 – 8 months. The rams take 10 – 12 months to reach full maturity. The expense of feeding sheep is not prohibitive. They could stay healthy with vaccinations, wholesome food, pure water, a clean environment, and exercise. Sheep are immune to some illnesses. For instance, the west African dwarf breed demonstrates resistance to the illness. They must be immunised against diseases that affect them, though. Rinderpest is one illustration. These vaccinations are inexpensive and don’t account for a sizable portion of essential costs.

In the central and northern regions of Nigeria, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists keep many small ruminants. Sheep and goats typically graze on leftover cropland and shared natural pastures. Few farmers use intensive and semi-intensive farming methods.

 

Sheep Farming in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is recognised to possess one of the most diversified livestock populations in Africa. The population of small ruminants owned by the country is estimated to be 56.6 million heads of small ruminants.

This livestock sector has been contributing a considerable portion to the economy of the country and still promises to play a significant role in the economic development of the country. It is eminent that sheep products in the form of meat could play a pivotal role as a good source of animal protein since they have short generation intervals and are affordable by resource-poor farmers. The sheep in Ethiopia are produced under an extensive low-input subsistence system. Like other tropical countries, studies noted that the productivity of indigenous sheep in terms of meat has been limited by poor genetic potential. Among the various factors, the absence of planned genetic improvement programs for local breeds is one of the causes of losing their competitive advantage, especially where production systems or external conditions are subject to change.

Moreover, the lack of adequate information on indigenous livestock genetic resources has been recognised to be a serious constraint to the effective prioritisation and planning of sustainable breeding strategies and breed conservation measures. As a result, several activities aimed at the characterisation of the major livestock genetic resources have been carried out by different governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Geographic distribution of Ethiopian sheep breeds

 

Exotic breeds represent a very insignificant proportion of the national flock and some of the exotic sheep breeds that have been introduced into the country include Dorper, Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Hampshire, Awassi, and Blue de Main. Only very few of these or their crosses are seen either in rural or urban areas. Some were limited to research stations while others have been and are still being distributed to farmers.

The loss of genetic variation within and between breeds is detrimental not only from the perspective of adaptability but also from utility since lost genes may be of future economic interest. The reasons for the loss of genetic diversity within and between breeds are many, including the low productivity of the local breeds, neglect of the potential of good indigenous breeds, lack of well-defined breeding objectives, inappropriate development policies and management strategies, disease outbreaks, various types of disasters and emergencies. Therefore, research and development on the conservation of sheep genetic resources in developing countries and particularly in Ethiopia are the most crucial and urgently needed. Thus, location-specific characterisation of the production system, farmers’ breeding practices, identification of breeding objective traits in a participatory manner and performance evaluation of the breeds should be conducted. There is also a need to verify the threat status of endangered livestock breeds and take measures to conserve them. The information generated might be required to design sustainable conservation-based utilisation programs.

Sheep farming in Ethiopia

Characterisation of Sheep Production Systems in Ethiopia:

According to the degree of integration with crop production, level of input, agro-ecology, relation to land and type of commodity to be produced and mobility, the traditional sheep production system can be subdivided into five systems;

1. The subalpine sheep–cereal system:

This system is found in the highland areas of Ethiopia where the major crops grown are barley and pulses such as fava beans and lentils. Sheep are the dominant livestock species and are reared mainly for the source of income, meat, manure, skin, and coarse wool. In the subalpine system, the numbers of sheep in a flock are larger, typically comprising 10-30 animals.

2. Highland cereal–livestock system:

The system covers an area with an altitude between 2 000 – 3 000 m.a.s.l. and is characterised by adequate rainfall and moderate temperature which is suitable for cereal production. In this system, sheep production is found in association with the different agricultural production systems which vary in potential, intensity of the mixed farming operation and natural resources including grazing and livestock resources, sheep are kept in small flocks and provide cash income, meat, manure and skins.

3. Highland perennial crop system:

This system is common in the Highlands with an altitude range of 1 500 – 2 000 m.a.s.l. In this farming system, livestock holdings are small, the topography is uneven and inter-cropping is practised. Under this system, livestock production is of minor importance and is characterised by the cultivation of a combination of cash and subsistence crops such as inset and fruit, chat, coffee, and tea. The integration of crop-livestock mixed farming is lower in the perennial system. Sheep are kept by smallholders, graze and rear together with goats and/or other livestock species such as cattle.

4. Lowland crop-livestock system or agro-pastoral system:

This system is found in the sub-moist or moist lowland areas (≤ 1 000 m.a.s.l.) with higher rainfall to support short-season crops (cereals, sesame, and cotton) compared to the pastoral system and it is characterised by less integration with crop production. This production system is associated with purely livestock-based nomadic and transhumance pastoral production systems that depend largely on the range, primarily using natural vegetation. In the lowlands of Ethiopia, livestock is comprised of large flocks and herds of sheep, goats, cattle and camels and it is mainly transhumant. Extensive livestock keeping is the backbone of the economies of this system.

5. Pastoral production system:

This system is in the arid and semi-arid lowland areas (≤ 1 000 m.a.s.l.) where livestock rearing is the mainstay of people. It is characterised by high mobility in search of grazing and water. In this system, extensive livestock production is mostly the sole source of livelihood with little or no cropping. Livestock, including small ruminant production, is associated with purely livestock-based nomadic and transhumance pastoral production systems based largely on the range, primarily using natural vegetation. The variability of rainfall is the greatest threat to crop production. Sheep are kept by nearly all pastoralists, often in mixed flocks with goats.

Sheep in a kraal

 

Sheep Farming in Sudan

Major breeds of sheep for export and their production areas in Sudan

Breeds in Sudan:

The four main breeds of sheep in Sudan.

	GROUP	BREED
1.	Developed or composite Breeds	Nungua Blackhead
2.	Thin-tailed hair sheep	Sudan Desert   Djallonke
3.	Thin-tailed coarse-wool sheep	Dongola

 

The export of livestock and livestock products was the nation’s main source of foreign exchange before oil was discovered there; it is now the second most significant source of foreign exchange after oil. Livestock and livestock products have traditionally been exported to the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia. Although exports happen all year long, they are at their highest during the two months leading up to the annual Hajj festival.

Sudan has many livestock, providing protein to most of the population with red meat and sheep milk. The livestock sub-sector is considered the backbone of the economy. The contribution of the livestock sub-sector in agriculture and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2000 was 65 and 23%, respectively and this percentage dropped to 45 and 15.4% in 2008, respectively due to decreased number of sheep export and the government’s extensive depend on oil export.

However, the pattern of demand in the Middle East has been changing in recent years. Increases in incomes and urban population, combined with a growing immigrant worker population, have contributed to a rapidly increasing demand for meat. Demand for food quality and safety assurance has also been increasing, and these countries are increasingly implementing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations. (sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health requirements. It allows countries to set their standards.)

Challenges facing the sheep industry in Sudan:

One effect of these modifications is that new suppliers, including those from Australia, Brazil and New Sudanese exports have been declining in volume as new products have entered the market that can meet the new standards. The 57th largest exporter of sheep and goat meat worldwide in 2020, South Sudan exported $559k in sheep and goat meat. Sheep and goat meat ranked ninth on South Sudan’s list of top exports in the same year. United Arab Emirates ($559k) is South Sudan’s top export market for sheep and goat meat.

According to the ministry, Sudan exported 473 200 animals in the first four months of 2022, including 2 600 goats, 386,000 sheep, and 42 600 cattle. 398,000 pieces of leather and 5 000 400 tonnes of fresh meat. This sector can produce enough for both domestic consumption and a sizeable amount for export. One of the biggest producers of livestock worldwide is Sudan. Although the Sudanese livestock industry is crucial to the nation’s economy, it has faced numerous challenges, including diseases, low productivity in many states due to insecurity and conflict, a lack of adequate marketing infrastructures, and poorly organised and knowledgeable herders and traders. The absence of policies to control animal production, marketing, trading, and veterinary public health as well as the lack of trustworthy data to prioritise sector development interventions are all related. The traditional pastoral (nomadic and semi-nomadic), agro-pastoral, and agrarian livestock production systems are still the main ones used in the nation. Because of the remoteness of the production areas from the consumer centres, the traditional sheep producers’ poor integration into the market due to their traditions and beliefs, the presence of many middlemen, and the high taxes and levies imposed by various local governmental entities, sheep prices in Sudan typically fluctuate constantly throughout the year from season to season.

 

 

Marketing and transportation of livestock (sheep) in Sudan:

Domestic livestock marketing.

Generally, the livestock in Sudan is most prevalent in the rain-fed farming areas in Eastern, Western and Central Sudan where they are raised under nomadic and transhumance systems (moving with livestock and growing short-maturity subsistence crops). The ruminant feed consists of pastures, browse, crop residues and supplements of cereals and oilseeds. The structure of the livestock market in Sudan consists mostly of primary markets that begin at the village level, secondary that exist in cities and with fewer final markets such as Omdurman market in Khartoum state and recently the government opened a new market in ElKhowi in North Kordofan state to export sheep directly.

Sheep marketing procedure.

When owners of sheep attend the market to sell their sheep, they must register in the market office how many animals they want to sell to get permission to enter the market. Usually, sheep are sold directly from the range or auction place at 2 – 4 years of age to the butchers. Sheep dealers buy their animals through the bargaining process from the sheep owner. The sheep are bought in groups at auction or individually according to their availability. Price is arbitrarily determined, although the age, condition of the sheep and season of the year may have some influence on the bargaining process. The prices received by the producers for sheep are based on the size of the sheep for sale agreed upon by the parties concerned after a bargaining process. After the sheep were sold in the market, the seller and payer would pay a fee to the market to get permission to take their animal out of the market.

Marketing channels of sheep in selected states.

Sheep marketing channels in Sudan depend on the flow of livestock producers to the final consumer. The marketing channel in Sudan is very long due to the remoteness of producing areas from consumption centres. The following Figure presents the marketing channels in Sudan. The supply chain is characterised by many intermediate stages, with transaction costs being taken up mostly by intermediary traders and brokers. Most trading is done by private treaty, except large numbers of sheep intended for export which are sold by private auction at primary, secondary or terminal markets. Resale in the same market on the same day is common and animals may be fattened or reconditioned before resale.

General schematic diagram of the sheep market chain in Sudan

 

Sheep farming in Sudan

Transportation cost from the production area to the terminal market.

Generally, producers or traders transport sheep from production areas to the consumption areas or central market, either on hoof-trekking or by trucks. In North Kordofan (Hamari sheep) the most convenient method of moving sheep from production areas to consumption areas is trekking (on hoof) where sheep are usually driven during the wet (rainy) and cold (winter) months of the year (July to February). By trekking, usually sheep are transported to Omdurman central market in consignments. Depending on the market demand, the average number of trips is two to three per year with one thousand animals per trip. The Khabeir (guide) is responsible for the well-being of the sheep until they reach their destination. Khabeir decides when to move, the speed of movement and when to rest. However, Khabeir and the shepherds are responsible for any losses incurred during the trip. For this reason, the Khabeir and the shepherds must be very trustworthy and well-known to the merchant. Most of the shepherds and the Khabeirs are paid on a per-trip basis. The average payment for the Khabeir (SDD 7.5 thousand per trip) is higher than the payment for the shepherd (SDD 3.5 thousand). The trip from the production area to the central market in Khartoum (Omdurman) usually takes 30 – 60 days, depending on the conditions of the sheep, grazing conditions and water availability, the market from where it is bought and the weather factor.

 

Sheep Farming in Kenya

Indigenous sheep of Kenya are very important to resource-poor farmers and pastoralists. They have over time adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of the arid and semi-arid lands where they are faced with challenges of persistent droughts, diseases, conflicts, and poor nutrition, yet show resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes. In recent years, these indigenous sheep populations have been crossbred indiscriminately to exotic breeds, particularly the Dorper. A study was undertaken to determine the level of genetic diversity and relatedness between the various sheep populations and breeds in Kenya.

Sheep farming in Kenya is done on a large scale. The number of sheep raised per hectare ranges from 50 – 500 animals. The average flock size is around 200 animals. Sheep are fed hay, fresh green grass, and corn mash during winter.

There are many benefits to sheep farming in Kenya, including a high production rate and a wide variety of products. Sheep (indigenous) are efficient farmers who graze quickly and produce a high amount of milk, meat, and wool. They are also resistant to some pests and diseases, making them an ideal choice for rural and urban areas.

Indigenous genetic resources of Africa and the world at large are threatened with extinction. In sub-Saharan Africa, it has been estimated that 30% of the indigenous genetic resources are at risk of becoming extinct before they are characterised and documented. The indigenous sheep of Kenya can be classified as fat-tailed or fat-rumped. These include the Red Maasai sheep and the East African Fat-tailed sheep.

 

 

These sheep are faced with many challenges including persistent droughts, diseases, conflicts, and poor nutrition. Their ability to walk long distances in search of pasture and adaptability to harsh environmental conditions and together with some unique traits, like resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes, increases their importance to resource-poor farmers and pastoralists. However, the greatest challenge being faced by these populations is the indiscriminate cross-breeding with exotic breeds and especially with the Dorper and causing increasing threats to this unique breed, with the possibility of extinction.

There is massive intro-aggression of the Dorper genes into the indigenous Red Maasai sheep population, in contrast to the situation 15 years earlier, thus causing genetic dilution and the threat of this unique indigenous breed. The results also show that the indigenous population in Homabay and the government-managed Red Maasai nucleus flock at Olmagogo show the greatest distinctness – a rare example where concerted efforts by a developing country government have resulted in sustainably conserving and improving an indigenous sheep breed, through an ex-situ live method.

The Role of Sheep and Goats in the Kenyan Economy:

 

Sheep and goats have traditionally been kept alongside cattle in many communities. In addition to producing livestock products, they are frequently used to pay debts (dowry, loans, customary fines, and so on), as well as to symbolize savings, wealth, and security from risk and ambiguity. Goats and sheep are simpler to destock and restock as needed due to their small body size, higher prolificacy, and shorter generation intervals compared to large stock. Frequently, they are sold as recurring goods to raise money for other necessities of life that do not call for selling large quantities.

Sheep and goats are beneficial for agricultural adaptation to achieve food security in a changing climate while delivering co-benefits for environmental sustainability, nutrition, and livelihoods, according to the Kenya Agriculture Department. Sheep and goats are desirable in pastoralist areas with frequent droughts because they can be easily destocked during the drought and restocked afterwards, reducing the losses from starvation. When compared to large stock, the sheep and goat industry has historically received relatively little attention in terms of research and development. This has resulted in the huge potential of the sheep and goat industry not having been fully exploited. The feeding habits and small body size of sheep and goats make them the most suitable animals for food production in the arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya. As climate change continues to negatively impact feed resource availability, the importance of sheep and goats will increase within the incrementally fragile ecosystems.

The Wool Fibre-yield of Kenyan Sheep Breeds:

Kenya has a tradition of wool production in Nauru, Uasin Gishu, Keiyo, Marakwet, and West Pokotand Nandi in the Rift Valley region. Other potential areas include highlands such as Nyandarua in the Aberdare Mountain Ranges, and the Mount Kenya regions in the central and eastern provinces. Wool production in the regions depicted in the Figure of a Map of Kenya showing high potential regions for wool sheep breeds declined some years ago and herders dropped out of the market in reaction to marketing problems and unattractive prices.

Map of Kenya showing high potential regions for wool sheep breed

The Rift Valley province has the highest sheep population and has been one of the major producers of wool in Kenya, as shown in the following Figure.

The number of sheep in all provinces of Kenya

 

The huge potential of sheep for the industry has not been fully exploited. The current government priority development policy strategy is geared towards poverty reduction. Among the strategy for smallholder farmers in the high potential areas will be dual-purpose sheep production. Sheep farming in Kenya is a part of the socio-economic setup for large and smallholders in many regions. It is an important resource of mutton and wool production, while in some areas it is also considered a source of milk. There has been a significant increase in the sheep population over the past years; this was also the trend for livestock in general. In addition to this increase in the sheep population, the trend of wool exports per year from Kenya has also been increasing.

Sheep grazing on land

The unchecked quality of the wool, the increasing use of synthetic fibres, and high competition from key wool-producing nations may result in wool going from a resource for income generation to a problem to solve. The wool produced in tons yearly will be considered and handled as a waste if the industry is neglected and the wool is not destined for profitable applications due to a weakened supply chain and the poor quality of the fibres. This situation may force farmers to get rid of their wool as quickly as possible in ways that may not be environmentally and economically acceptable. Therefore, there is a need for research and development to offer solutions to problems in sheep farming, wool production, the innovation of novel wool products and the introduction of high-quality fibres such as super-fine wool. Finally, the participation in and/or membership of international organisations to attract the attention of wool-importing bodies throughout the world would make Kenyan wool more marketable in world markets, to avoid creating a branch of agriculture that may end up being sinister or creating a deficit and thus needing a subsidy from the government.

Sheep in their stalls