INTRODUCTION

Ejura Sheep Breeding Station is located in the transitional zone of the country at Bonyon in Ejura, 105 km from Kumasi in the Ashanti region. It was established in 1965 as a Sheep and Goats Project by the then Animal Husbandry Department with the aim of increasing the production of small ruminants (sheep and goats) to meet national demands.

It was subsequently transformed into a farm under the Animal Health and Production Department (AHPD) and eventually, the Animal Production Department (APD) when the station became an implementing agency of the National Livestock Services Project (NLSP) funded by World Bank/GOG from 1993 to 1999 with the objective of establishing and sustaining a National Sheep Nucleus Center, hence the removal of goats.

MANDATE

The mandate of the farm is to produce and supply genetically superior and tested progeny of the Djallonke sheep to farmers in the country.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the station is to serve as a “Nucleus Center” for breed improvement of the Djallonke sheep.

Other objectives are to:

•  raise the productivity and weights of the Djallonke’ sheep in the country
• assist in the development of extension packages for livestock producers and institutions
• provide facilities for technical training of students, extension workers and farmers  in sheep production, breeding and pasture management
•  produce planting materials to help with oversowing of rangelands

SECTIONS OF THE FARM

There are two main sections:

Stock Section – takes care of the flock of sheep on the farm

Forage Section- establishes pasture grasses and legumes to feed the sheep.

The station also serves as a center for processing and maintenance of good quality stylo seeds produced in Ghana.