Nandi Farmer Imports Dorper Ram Worth KSh 200k From South Africa

• Levy Kachilei, who hails from Kamoiywo, Nandi county, is thriving as a mixed farmer as he rears sheep, cows and grows different crops
• Kachilei revealed he had imported two Dorper rams from South Africa with superior genetics to improve his breeds
• The proud man, who holds farming in high regard, is the proprietor of Birei farm, where he teaches other upcoming farmers

A farmer in Nandi has imported a Dorper ram worth a whopping KSh 200,00 from South Africa.

Levy Kachilei from Kamoiywo, Chesumei Constituency, revealed he acquired the ram from Lorey Philips.

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Kachilei explained that he imports from South Africa because it is the home of Dorpers.

"They are also the best livestock breeders after the Netherlands. The cost of one ram is KSh 200,000.

"I am also crossing Dorper with Hampshire down. The idea is to get a tall and first-maturity sheep. Dorpers mature faster, but Hampshire is taller," he said.

Kachilei, who practises mixed farming, disclosed he now owns two Dorper rams. The first one he imported was named Birei 001.

"Now we have two imported Rams. We hope Birei 001 and Mzala will form a great partnership," he said.

Overall, he owns 150 ewes on his farm.

"Currently, we just sell breeding rams (young ones) at the cost of KSh 15,000 to KSh 20,000, at five to six months old. We have 150 sheep and our target is to keep 400 sheep in the next year.

Once he hits his target, he intends to auction the animals after six every six months.

At Birei farm, he also keeps dairy cows, purely Holstein.

Levy Kachilei mourns beloved cow

Earlier, Kachilei was thrown into deep mourning after losing his beloved cow, which produced 25 litres of milk daily.

He told TUKO.co.ke that the animal named Malaga was the only remaining cow in the Kap Chemungen family at his Birei farm.

Kachilei said Malaga's mother was the best ever cow he had on his farm, where he herds over 10 hybrid cattle.

"Rest in peace Malaga Chemungen. She left one calf (a bull). At her first calving, she produced 25 litres of milk per day.

Her mother, Prescot Chemungen, was the best cow we ever had on the farm. She was doing 35 litres," he penned a tribute.

Another Nandi man imports KSh 200k sheep

In the same Nandi county, Isaac Kosgei set tongues wagging when he imported Dorper sheep from South Africa at KSh 200,000 each.

Kosgei is a thriving sheep farmer who mainly deals with Dorper sheep and Gala goats; he also farms potatoes.

The farmer revealed that there is a big market for Dorper sheep, especially from European and Arab countries that have since dumped Australia for East Africa.