Abstract:
Farmers in the drylands practice mixed crop and livestock
production systems. Both production systems have
mutual relationships and understanding of target outputs in each system is important. With increasing demand
for livestock products, livestock production is expected
to be the major driving enterprise during a predicted
food revolution. Targeting the most valued livestock spec
ies and the premium products or services from that
species will improves the farmers’ interest and adopti
on of recommended production technologies. In this cross
sectional survey carried out in Kibwezi District, Kenya, this research team aimed at identifying the most valued
livestock species and the premium products or servi
ces targeted. Systematic sampling method using road
transects was used to select farmers to be involved in the survey. The pair wise ranking method was used in
importance ranking during the survey and a Focused Group Discussion held to discuss the survey results. The
farmers’ importance ranking of the livestock species
was topped by the goat followed by chicken, cattle and
sheep. Draft power was ranked most important followed by beef, cash, milk and then manure. To produce the
top ranked product (draft power) the most valued livest
ock age/sex class is the entire bulls followed by the
heifers, mature females, castrated and lastly the calv
es. Therefore to improve livestock production in Kibwezi
District, we recommend that farmers focus on improving the performance of entire bulls for draft power and
mature females for milk production
