During the first week of June 2011, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy Livestock Department participated in the Brookside Livestock Breeders Show and Sale in Nairobi. Our team managed to walk away with two cups and a number of awards. The event, which is held once every two years, is a chance for farmers to exhibit their livestock and attracts the best from all over Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and even as far as Zambia.

Giles Prettejohn, Ol Pejeta’s Livestock Manager, displays the Lady Anne Delamere cup awarded for the best group of three females during the Livestock Breeders show in Nairobi. Looking on is Hussein holding the cow that came in first place.

The Breeders Show is different from other agricultural shows because it is meant specifically for purebred livestock. According to Giles Prettejohn, Ol Pejeta’s Livestock Manager, this show ensures that industry standards are maintained and quality livestock is reared. Though the competition was tough, Ol Pejeta borans managed to win the highly sought-after Lady Anne Delamare Cup for a group of three females. The second cup was for the Junior Champion, the best bull under 3 years.  This surprise win for the Conservancy, from a total of 49 young bulls entered, was apparently the most beautiful animal the judge had seen.

Ol Pejeta borans also:

• Won the female in-calf heifer category
• Won the reserve champions in the heifer category
• Were third position in the bulls between three to four years category
• And were in third position in the bulls four to  five years class

The show also gave cattle breeders a chance to auction off their cattle to the highest bidder. Two of Ol Pejeta Borans were up for auction and managed to fetch a total of Ksh. 520,000. The Conservancy also bought two bulls at the auction in order to introduce new bloodlines to the current genetic pool, including the Reserve Champion Bull bred by Stanley and Son.

Though Ol Pejeta did not retain its Championship title, it won in a number of categories and came in second position overall. The success at the breeders show once again goes to show that a livestock-wildlife integration system works and success can be achieved by doing both.

The herders, who take excellent care of our borans, proudly pose with the reserve champion back in the Conservancy.