Kajiado: Herders take up controlled cattle breeding to protect animal quality

Cattle are seen as the pride of the community.

However, a group of herders in Kajiado has come up with an initiative to plan breeding using a makeshift tool that keeps the reproductive organs of the animals shielded.

One herder, Anthony Musanga, said, "Goats usually breed twice a year, however, we have seen a situation where they are breeding up to four times a year and this affects quality, because you will find the cattle not as healthy as they should be. There's no need to have several head of cattle that are malnourished. Better have a few healthy ones. The healthy ones fetch way more at the market"

He went on, "Since these are animals and they can't control themselves, it's therefore up to us to ensure we do family planning for them."

Famine has dealt a blow to many herders.

"With changing weather patterns, you cannot let cattle breed uncontrollably. It has to be well planned," Bismarck Oseur, another farmer said.