Issues Affecting Beef Industry in Kenya

Abstract

Agriculture sector is estimated to contribute about 30% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Kenya. The livestock sector contributes about 30% of GDP from agriculture. The population of beef cattle in Kenya is estimated at 9 million heads. Nearly 70% of the beef herd is found in the semi-arid and arid areas. Local demand for beef is expected to increase with rise in population and improved per capita income. KARl ranks beef Industry as the second most important commodity for research only second to dairy. Improvement in beef industry will have great impact in improving rural standard of living especially for people in the dry parts of the country who depend on livestock for livelihood. Further more, there is high potential of exporting beef and co-products, thus earning the much desired foreign exchange. Slow growth, weight loss and high mortality during drought have been identified as the major constraints limiting high productivity of the beef industry. This indirectly implies that aspects of management, nutrition, disease control, breeding, marketing and processing of beef and co-products are key issues that require to be addressed by policy, extension, research and producers