CHICKEN
Exotic Layers
Layers are birds kept for eggs.
Breed Types
Some of the breeds include the following:- White leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, Brown Sussex, Black Australorp, Ken brew, Kroiler, Brown shavers, Brown eggers, Red Shavers, Naked neck.
Indigenous chicken
Layers are birds kept for eggs.
Types of birds kept
Some available breeds are based on colour of the feathers (plumage), head, neck appearance and body size e.g. Normal, Dwarf, Naked neck, crested and frizzle feather.
BEEKEEPING
Beekeeping in Kenya has been practiced for a long time. The traditional beekeepers use simple hives often made from hollowed logs. The empty hives placed high up on trees become occupied by passing swarms and in due course are harvested by the beekeepers. There are different types of hives that allow the user to freely move combs during inspections.
Species of Bees
Some of the breeds include the following: White leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, Brown Sussex, Black Australorp, Ken brew, Kroiler, Brown shavers, Brown eggers, Red Shavers, Naked neck.
RABBITS
Rabbits are small mammals found all over the world. The female is a doe, the male is a buck, and the young one is a kid. Rabbit keeping is a popular enterprise for the youth. They can be kept in doors in a cage or in a pen. Rabbits are quick growing and reproduce quickly. Their meat is of high quality just like that of chicken.
Breed Types
Common ones are wild breeds, beveren, palomino, florida white, Kenya white, New-Zealand white, Californian white, Chinchilla, French ear-lopped and crosses. The Californian and New-zealand white are the fastest growing breeds.
SHEEP AND GOATS
Sheep and goats are a popular source of meat for ceremonies, parties and casual roasting in social places. Goat milk is very popular due to its nutritional benefits. It is a good source of protein and contains less sugar than cow milk. Although land remains a real constraint for increasing livestock population especially in the high potential areas, management aspects such as breeding, housing, deworming and general feeding aspects are known to increase production and meat output in general.
Sheep breeds
Hampshire down, Romney mash, Corriedales, Red maasai, Dorper, Merino, Blackhead
Goat breeds
Saanen, Torgenburg, E.A. goats, German Alphine, Gala, Boer, Angora
PIGS
Pigs are important livestock for income generation because they are prolific (reproduce very fast) and have ready market.
Breed Types
Landrace, Large white, Duroc, Hampshire and their crosses