• Agreement covers annual imports worth about £700,000 ($922,000)
• Deal aims to improve sheep and goat breeds and boost meat production
• Kenya’s goat and sheep meat output rose sharply between 2022 and 2024

Kenya has finalized a trade agreement to import sheep and goat genetic material—including embryos, live breeders, and gametes—from the United Kingdom. The announcement was made on November 10 in a statement issued by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which estimated the annual value of the imports at about £700,000 ($922,000).

The United Kingdom, recognized as a global leader in animal genetics, is known for its sheep breeds such as Suffolk, British Friesland, and East Friesian, which are valued for their resilience and high performance in reproduction, milk, and meat production.

Nairobi’s decision to source genetic material from the UK reflects its goal to improve the quality and productivity of its sheep and goat herds through genetic enhancement. It also signals an effort to strengthen the country’s small livestock sector to meet growing domestic and export demand for meat.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), goat meat production increased by 74.4% to 97,436 tons between 2022 and 2024, while sheep meat output rose by 43.54% to 56,527 tons over the same period. On the export side, data from the Trade Map platform show that Kenya’s exports of sheep and goat meat more than doubled in five years, from 12,508 tons in 2020 to 25,186 tons in 2024.

The challenge for Kenya will also be to improve the replenishment capacity of its herds. KNBS data indicate that the country’s livestock population in 2024 included about 38.42 million goats and 26.21 million sheep.