What is beef farming?

KCSE Geography Paper 2 2017 Section A Question 7.

(a) (i) What is beef farming? 

• Is the rearing of cattle for meat.

(ii) Identify five factors that favour beef farming in Kenya.

• Extensive flat land
•  Natural grass/ pasture.
• Moderate temperatures/1 8-28°C/ warm-hot climate.
•  Availability of watering points/sites such as swamps.
•  Moderate rainfall / 500mm -999mm.
•  Availability of ranching schemes to control overgrazing/pests/diseases.
•  Cultural practices/local people that practice livestock farming as their livelihood.
•  Availability of marketing/ demand

​(b) State six features of nomadic pastoralism in Kenya. 

1. They keep large herds of animals/many kinds of animals/overstocking.
2. They keep animals as a sign of wealth/prestige.
3. Land in which the animals are kept is communially owned.
4. The animals are weakened by pests and diseases/have low value/unhealthy.
5. The animals are moved seasonally in search for pasture and water.
6. There is uncontrolled breeding of animals.
7. There is inefficient marketing system/walking for long distances to the market.
8. Animals are exposed to cattle rustling/frequent raids.
9. They rely on it for subsistence/ income
10. Dwell in temporal structures.

(c) Give reasons why beef production is higher in Argentina than Kenya.

•  Argentina has larger/better organized/managed ranches than in Kenya.
•  Argentina has high quality cattle than Kenya.
• Argentina has better methods of animal husbandry/control of diseases/extension services than Kenya.
•  Argentina has nutritious grass/fodder/alfafa.
•  Argentina has pastures throughout the year due to the maritime climate.
•  The ranches are well watered by wind pumps which reduces movement/weight loss in search for water.
• Argentina has more capital for intensive care/refrigeration for beef farming.
•  Argentina has high advanced technology/ external market for beef.
•  It has a well-developed railway/road network that transports beef cattle to the factories.
•  Argentina has large local/external market for beef.

​(d) Explain the role played by beef farming to the economy of Kenya. 

•  Beef cattle provide meat/animal products for exports which earns the country foreign exchange.
•  It has provided employment to many people in the slaughter houses/butcheries/ranches improving their living standards.
•  It provides raw materials to industries such as meat processing/leather industries.
•  Products of beef are sold locally to earn income/improved living standards of farmers.
•  (It has improved the living standards of the farmers who earn income through the sales).
•  It has lead to development of roads easing transport.
•  The government earns revenue for economy development.

​Related Geography Searches on Agriculture Form 3 Level

Read More