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Kenya opens livestock genetics market to UK breeders
Goats at the Kimalel auction in Baringo County. Kenya has opened its livestock genetics market to UK breeders under a new export deal aimed at improving animal productivity.
Kenya’s livestock sector has become the latest export destination for the United Kingdom sheep and goat breeders following a new agreement granting access to the country’s growing market for high-quality animal genetics.
The deal allows the UK to export breeding material to Kenya’s estimated 46-million-head livestock industry, positioning the country as a new frontier for Britain’s livestock-genetics trade.
According to the UK government, the arrangement, valued at about £700,000 (Sh119 million) annually, will help meet Kenya’s rising demand for improved breeding stock as it works to boost food production and self-sufficiency for its expanding population.
Kenya’s sheep and goat numbers are projected to rise significantly in the coming years, creating steady demand for advanced genetic inputs that can enhance the productivity and resilience of local herds and flocks.
The agreement underscores the growing importance of Kenya’s livestock market, which is drawing attention from global suppliers of premium breeding material seeking entry into Africa’s production systems.
Announcing the deal in London, UK Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the new market access reflects international confidence in British agricultural standards and the role of trade in strengthening food-security partnerships.
“UK livestock genetics have earned a global reputation for excellence, with countries around the world seeking our breeding stock to strengthen their agricultural sectors and improve food security,” she said.
“This new opportunity with Kenya demonstrates the global demand for the high quality that defines UK agriculture. This is exactly the kind of international collaboration that strengthens both our agricultural sector and our trading relationships worldwide.”
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the access agreement reflects the success of its agri-attaché network, which works with industry to open and maintain overseas markets for British breeders.
UK livestock genetics are already exported to more than 100 countries, underpinning about 70 percent of global poultry lines and forming a key component of breeding programmes for cattle, pigs and sheep.
Officials said the Kenyan opening adds to a series of market expansions for British exporters, including recent approvals in Argentina, Turkmenistan, and several countries affected by African Swine Fever, where UK breeders have pioneered the use of frozen semen to reduce disease-transmission risks.
