Dorper Sheep Project
To address the challenge of low incomes amongst our single mother’s, we launched a project where we provided them with seed capital in the form of a Dorper sheep to enable them to build their financial capabilities. To launch the project, we provided 9 Single mums with a Dorper ewe and provided them with training on breeding stock selection, lambing and weaning, lamb nutrition, diseases management and parasites control.
The results
To date, the single mothers reported an increase in their flocks due to them giving birth to more lambs. This enabled them to improve their household incomes through sale of sheep (lambs). In addition, some of the single mothers opted to replace some of their dorper’s with calves and or dairy goats which resulted in the diversification of their income streams as they could now sell milk.
Some success stories
Ngonyo Mutura ranks the best among her peers as she reared the highest number of sheep. She now has a flock of 8 sheep which consists of 4 lambs, 3 mature ewes and a mature ram. She reported that the Dorper is a hardy breed, that is disease and drought resistant. In addition, the breed fetches higher prices when sold in comparison to their counterparts. Ngonyo terms the project as highly beneficial to her, and could serve a quick source of income in future. The sheep are easy to manage as they are mostly tethered in the open fields.
Ngonyo with her Dorper and its 3 months old lamb
Dorcas Wamaitha Njuguna has acquired one more sheep. She now has a flock of 3: the Dorper ewe and its lamb and the newly acquired merino. Her Dorper is still in good health, and is suspected to be in kid a second time.
Dorcas with her Dorper alongside it lamb which several months old
Elizabeth Wangui Mwaura also shines among her peer beneficiaries with the highest number of sheep owned- bringing her flock to 8 sheep. To date, the animals are still in good health.
Elizabeth with her Dorper and its newly lambed lamb
In Conclusion
The 9 individual single mums (beneficiaries) of Nuru Women Group term the project as highly beneficial and accountable for several benefits in alleviating poverty and diversifying their incomes. The Dorpers have been witnessed to mature faster in comparison to the local breeds of sheep and fetch higher prices in the local markets. The sheep also adapted easily to their new environment/homes with high resistance to harsh weather conditions and diseases.
Training offered at the beginning of the project made it easy for the mums to manage the animals, attributing to its success. The beneficiaries have been administering dewormers and acaricides for diseases and pests control. They were also guided on the construction of suitable sheepcotes. Most of the mums thus were able to reconstruct the sheepcotes to the required habitable standards.
As a result, the project was deemed successful as it enabled the single mothers to alleviate a measure of poverty and diversify their households incomes