UK Secures £700,000 Livestock Genetics Deal with Kenya

British livestock breeders are celebrating a major breakthrough after the United Kingdom sealed a £700,000 annual deal granting access to Kenya’s vast sheep and goat market — a move hailed as a significant boost for the country’s world-leading genetics industry.

Source: qcsupply

The agreement, achieved through Defra’s agri-food attaché network, will allow British exporters to supply sheep and goat genetic material to Kenya’s growing livestock sector, home to an estimated 46 million animals. It is expected to strengthen ties between the two nations while helping Kenya meet its rising demand for high-quality breeding stock and improved food security.

For the UK, the deal underscores its global reputation for excellence in animal breeding, adding to a long list of genetic exports that already reach over 100 countries. Britain’s pedigree lines — from Suffolk sheep and Angus cattle to Large White pigs — have made the country a powerhouse in animal science, with breeding stock supporting around 70 percent of the world’s poultry production.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle described the deal as a vote of confidence in British agriculture, noting that it “highlights the global demand for the quality and expertise that define UK farming.” She credited the agri-attaché network for championing British breeders around the world and said such partnerships strengthen both the agricultural sector and international trade relations.

Industry leaders have also praised the achievement as proof that collaboration between government and breeders is paying off. Marcus Bates, chair of the UK Export Certification Partnership, said the deal shows how the UK is now competing with long-established agricultural exporters like the US and EU countries.

The agreement follows a surge in global demand for British livestock genetics, with similar breakthroughs in Argentina and Turkmenistan earlier this year. As Kenya looks to modernise its livestock production, the partnership not only opens new opportunities for British farmers but also reaffirms the UK’s standing as a global leader in sustainable, science-driven animal breeding.