Hundreds of Gambian families could find this year’s Tobaski challenging as some “Ladom” rams prices jump to 150,000 dalasis with the cheapest pegged at 40,000 dalasis.

Sulayman Njie, sheep rarer, told Gambiana at an International Livestock Trade Fair held at the Independent Stadium in Bakau: “it depends on how colourful and nice the body of the sheep and ram are. 

“For example, prices for rams range from 150,000 dalasis to 50,000, 75,000, 80,000 and 40,000 dalasis.”

 According to him, he is motivated to start raising ‘ladom’ sheep after returning to the country from America, adding he has travelled the world but has not seen such types of sheep breeds anywhere except within West Africa.

“So, this breed of sheep should be taken care of and the country men and women should try and breed many of these sheep in order to help close the shortage of livestock in the country,” he said.

“If such trade fares can continue to happen in the country for every three to six months it will help a lot because it will help to create more job opportunities for the youths of the country. 

“You see this animal raring is far better than travelling to Europe because even the Europeans now are coming to Africa,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba