Improved pastures revive Kenya’s livestock exports

Exporters of live animals to Mauritius are preparing to resume the business following the recent rainfall that has improved pasture in Coast province.

The growing demand for live Kenyan animals in Mauritius was interrupted by the recent drought that affected many parts in the country, leading traders to suspend exports since they could not get the animals of the required weight.

“With the current rainfall in many parts of the province, there is sufficient pasture and we are optimistic that the animals will attain the required weight for export,” Mohammed Mursal of Global Livestock Traders said.

“We shall resume in the next one or two months,” Mursal, who works for the only company contracted by the Mauritius government to source and export animals, added.

The business started last year after Global was awarded a contract to export 7000 animals worth Sh30 million last year.

According to Mursal, Mauritius will require 8,000 live cattle and 4000 goats from Kenya every year.  

Kenya is the only country in the region which can supply Mauritius with its requirements, Mursal said.

The export of meat products from Kenya was temporally stopped in 2006 due to the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever that affected many parts of the country.

Between 2004 and 2006, according to Ministry of Livestock figures, Kenyan ranchers earned Sh430 millions from meat product exports. 

Mursal said that Egypt has also expressed interest in Kenyan imports.

“We are negotiating with the Egypt for meat export,” Mursal said, adding that Egypt will however not require live animals but beef.

Kenya has a quota of 142,000 metric tonnes of meat which is provided under the African Caribbean Pacific preferential beef export agreement which cannot be accessed due to prevalence of trade sensitive diseases in the country.

According to the statistics released by the Livestock Ministry last year, the Middle East alone has a net demand of 122,000 Metric tonnes.

The region was one of the traditional markets in the 1980s when the country could meet international standards.

The animals the country is exporting to Mauritius are sourced from Taita Taveta ranches and according to Provincial Veterinary Director in Coast Dr Nkari Gatumo, the export permit does not allow the exporter to source animals elsewhere in the country despite the fact that there may be plenty of animals meeting the required fat content.

Other parts in the country are not considered disease free zones. Each animal must weigh between 300- 400 kilogrammes.

“The terms of agreement with Mauritius importers are very specific and these animals must come from Taita Taveta area,” Dr. Gatumo said in an earlier interview.

In case the animals are to be sourced from other disease free zone areas, especially North Eastern province, they first have to be taken to the Taita Ranches where they are primed to required standards, Mursal said.  

The opening up of the Mauritius market is seen as a big relief to the North Eastern province, where the pastoralists suffers perennial drought that leads to huge losses of livestock. 

However, Mauritius imports only bulls which must not be castrated since testicles are a delicacy in the country.

Bulls also have a good fat layout, Dr Gatumo said.  

Disease-free zones

When exported alive, Dr Gatumo said there is more value to the industry than when dealing with beef.

“The trickle down effect to local residents is very high because it creates more opportunities”.

The government is planning to create more disease free zones.

The first 3 will be created in the Coast, Laikipia and the Southern Rift regions.

“Successful implementation and commencement of meat export will be possible in the medium term plan 2008-2012 with meat exports starting in 2011- 2012,” the livestock minister Mr Mohammed Kuti said last year.