Farmer defies cattle rustlers to keep modern breeds

To many people, Baringo County is home to cattle rustlers. But deep inside the mathenge grazing fields of Il Chamus land, Dickson Lenasolio, a former police officer is re-writing the script of cattle farming in the region.

His passion to change his community’s traditional approach to rearing cattle forced him to quit the Police Service after only three years. The 63-year-old then ventured into cattle breeding with only four heifers and a bull he bought using proceeds from his savings.

Dickson Lenasolio a Sahiwal cattle farmer at Alaban village in Baringo county looking after his cattle on June 12,2015. Lenasolio resigned from police service three years after he was employed to engage in farming activities.Today, he breeds pure Sahiwal cattle and owns more than 30 of them in his 45 acre parcel of land protected all round by improvised electric fence. He sells a one-year-old for sh 60, 000 while more than a year to two years attract Sh80, 000 and above. (PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD)

And like other succes stories, his peers mocked him when he resigned from the police to start breeding cattle. But he has had the last laugh, smiling all the way to the bank.

Determined to make a difference in livestock farming, Lenasolio researched on breeds that do well in arid and semi-arid areas. Armed with Sh142,000, his first stop was at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in Marigat where he bought four Sahiwal heifers. He bought the bull from Olkaram ranch in Laikipia.

Fast maturing

“This breed does well in arid and semi-arid areas. I decided to try my hand on it and it worked,” said the farmer pointing at a reddish brown cow. He now keeps more than 30 cattle on his 45-acre parcel of land.

Lenasolio says the breed is tick and parasites resistant and heat-tolerant.

Besides being cheap to maintain, the breed earns him more profit compared to the indigenous cattle.

“It has numerous advantages over indigenous cattle. I still get milk and sell the calf at a good price,” he says.

The breed also matures faster and produces up to five times the amount of milk indigenous cows produce daily. “Sahiwals are very fertile and can give birth every 11 months unlike the indigenous breeds which take more than three years,” says Lenasolio.

A mature Sahiwal bull weighs about 600kg, twice the average weight of local breeds.

But how does he keep such prized cattle at the heart of cattle rustling region? To keep off intruders, Lenasolio invested in solar-powered electric fence at a cost of Sh493,000.

“I do not need a herder because neighbours animals and wild animals have no access to the farm or even wildlife,” he says.

At one time, Lenasolio sold three bulls at Sh100, 000, Sh120, 000 and Sh147,000. A one-year-old bull goes for Sh60, 000 while those above two years attract Sh80, 000. Recently, he sold a bull and heifer for more than Sh200, 000.

Advanced breeds

“I receive calls from secondary schools requesting to be supplied with heifers on a daily basis,” he says. “I breed the best bulls but I also buy improved bulls from advanced breeders to avoid inbreeding. My desire is to achieve the best.”

From milk, he makes Sh51, 000 per month. He supplies more than 40 litres of milk to schools and hotels in Marigat after setting aside 15 litres for family consumption.

To keep his cattle healthy, the farmer ensures they are sprayed with pesticides every 10 days and deworms them every three months. The animals are also vaccinated against tsetse fly every six months. “I always ensure my farm is well maintained. I have drilled a borehole inside the farm to ensure the cattle get clean water throughout,” he says.

Most of his customers are livestock farmers from as far as Transmara, Narok, Mochongoi, and Samburu among other arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya.

One of the largest orders Lenasolio has received was from a farmer from Mogadishu, Somalia who wanted 19 heifers and three bulls. He, however, lacked the capacity to supply.

Currently, Lenasolio has an order for six Sahiwal bulls from the Baringo County Government at a cost of Sh80,000 each. The county wants the bulls for its livestock improvement programme.

From the proceeds of his farm, Lenasolio pays a total of Sh500, 000 in schools fees for his five children in secondary school, one in university and others in primary school. “All my children are in private schools including Moi Primary Kabarak,” he says.