Sheep farmers witness significant increases in animals

Photo: YASP

Mohamed Ahmed Alawili (left) and a local USAID-funded agricultural support program's extension agent proudly display a quadruplet of healthy lambs.

Yemeni farmers learn new techniques to increase the health and productivity of their sheep.

In the five months that Mohamed Ahmed Alawili and Hassan Al-Mogahed have been working with livestock extension agents from a USAID agricultural support program in Yemen�s Amran governorate, they have witnessed firsthand the benefits USAID is providing to farmers in the country.
The program is a USAID-funded initiative to enhance agricultural production and rural economic development in Yemen. By using the concentrated feed, mineral blocks, vaccinations and training the program provided, Mohamed and Hassan have seen the health and productivity of their sheep increase dramatically.
Of Hassan�s 20 pregnant sheep that were fed concentrated feed, given mineral blocks, and treated for parasites, ten delivered triplets with each lamb weighing 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds), while another four sheep delivered twins with each weighing 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds). Normally, Hassan�s sheep deliver one lamb each, weighing on average 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds)
Mohamed�s sheep have experienced similar improvements. Of his 14 sheep, four delivered twins with each lamb weighing 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds), while a fifth sheep delivered quadruplets with each lamb weighing 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). Mohamed�s sheep, like Hassan�s, normally deliver one lamb each, weighing on average 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds).
Both farmers plan on investing in concentrated feed and mineral blocks for their newborn sheep, which should allow them to bring a higher price when they sell them in the market.