Sheep Farming Business in Nigeria: Guide on How To Start (2024)

Do you want to learn about sheep farming or better still how to start sheep farming in Nigeria, its business plan and other requirements, then this step by step guide is for you.

Sheep Farming In Nigeria

Believe me when I tell you sheep farming business in Nigeria is highly lucrative; I mean what else can you say about an animal that reaches it heat period every 16-18 days, has a gestation period of 148 days and have a lifespan of about 7 years? Not only this, aside it first investment, rearing a sheep is relatively easy and cheap, with their feed been cheaply cheap.

However, there are some things you need to put in place to ensure you are able to correctly setup your farm, manage it and then profit from it. So enjoy our guide on how to start a sheep farming business in Nigeria.

Steps To Guide You on Starting Sheep Farming In Nigeria

STEP 1: Training & Planning

Unlike other forms of farming in Nigeria, sheep farming business does not require a rigorous training as they are cheap and easy to learn and maintain. However, since this is a business, you can’t afford to be without adequately knowing how to care for your animals and as such, you need to at least seek the advice of a sheep farming, don’t see them as a competitor that need to be avoided, you have a lot to gain from them, probably nothing to lose by asking for their help.

The next step is planning; you need to have a clear strategy on how you are going to run your business. Check online resources on how to write a sheep farming business plan, you will be glad you did. One aspect of the plan that is very important is selecting your breed; this will depend on what you expect from the farm. Some are best for production of meat or mutton as they are called while others are best for production of wool. Generally, the breeds we have in Nigeria include Ara-ara. Balami, Bororo, West African dwarf, Uda and Yankasa. You need to learn more about each of these and make your selections wisely.

STEP 2: Setting Up The Farm/Sheep Pen

After coming up with your sheep farming business strategy and had of course gotten your capital, the next thing to do is to start your business proper. The first steps is getting you breeds but before bringing them, you know you need to put some structures and sheep farming equipment in place. You need to get a piece of land where you will start your farm. However, if you run on a lean budget and you can start with that extra plot of land abandoned in your backyard. The next is building a sheep pens (house) for their shelter. This is needed to protect them from the rain and harsh weather condition.

STEP 4: Nurturing the Sheep

After the initial setup, it is incredible cheap to breed sheep as they feed on fresh grasses and forage. You can also feed them hays or get specialized feeds depending on the advice of your veterinary doctor and trainer. Poor feeding is a sure receipt for a negative return on investment, so ensure not to cut corners. Their health is also very important as they are sensitive to diseases caused microbes such as Rinderpest and Anthrax. However, the cost of vaccinating them against this is cheap. It is also good to regularly de-worm them.

STEP 5: Marketing Of Sheep and Sales

Like they say, you don’t prepare for war at the time of war; you do so at the time of peace. This also apply  here, you don’t start marketing your animals when they are all grown up, you start so before they are matured for the market, this is to ensure fast sales and avoid discouragement.

As you can see from the above that sheep farming in Nigeria is a very lucrative business and you are sure to make good profit from it if you start this business venture. In summary, the entire process of sheep farming is based on the following steps:

• Knowing your purpose of doing the business.
• Getting a land to rear the sheep especially a portion of the land has forages planted.
• Be on the look out for health condition of the animals, administering vaccination occasionally if possible.
• Breeding them well by mastering how to take care of sheep.

Those are the steps to consider if you must be successful in your sheep farming in Nigeria.