12/04/2026
One of our inspiration at Ol Nael Farm is by the legend and our good friend Eliud Kipchoge who famously said “No human is limited” .
It shapes how we think, plan, and grow the farm.
In one of the interaction before we started farming his advice was simple “your end results aren’t determined by where you start, but by how you improve, start small, think big and be consistent always” .
I reflected on this and if I was to advice anyone doing farming or intending to venture this is what I will say:
1. Start Small
Even if you begin with just 2–5 goats, don’t see that as a limitation.
• Build gradually: reinvest profits into more goats
• Improve breed quality over time
• Expand from traditional old school → commercial mindset
👉🏿The “limit” is not your starting size—it’s your willingness to scale.
2. Learn continuously
A lot of farmers stay stuck because they stop learning.
• Study feeding systems, breeding cycles, disease control, visit farmers,enroll for online classes,attend farming open days etc
• Try improved fodder crops or supplements
• Learn record-keeping and basic farm management technics
👉🏿Knowledge removes limits faster than money does.
3. Improve your herd quality
You may not afford top breeds at first—but you can upgrade over time.Start with the local goat( Galla,Somali,Maasai etc)
• Practice selective breeding
• Introduce better bucks when possible
• Avoid inbreeding
👉🏿Over a few seasons, your herd can completely transform.
4. Turn challenges into opportunities
Common “limits” in goat farming:
• Disease outbreaks/Poor or inadequate management / Kids Mortality
• Feed shortages/ Grazing land scarcity/Cost of feeding
• Market access/ Market price for live goats
Instead of stopping:
• Learn basic veterinary care/ walk the journey with a vet/ask a trusted farmer/ invest in technology to help you manage your farm even if you are a” remote/telephone farmer” /invest in a good farm hands / understand cause of mortality when they occur
• Preserve feed (hay/silage)/minimize wastage
• Build relationships with buyers early/Network with other farmers
👉🏿Every obstacle is something you can learn to manage.
5. Treat it like a business
“No human is limited” also means not staying informal or “Kienyeji” as we say it in Kenya
• Track costs and profits
• Plan breeding cycles for market demand
• Explore value addition (milk, manure, breeding stock)
👉🏿The biggest transformation comes when you shift from “keeping goats” to “running a goat enterprise.”
6. Discipline and consistency
Eliud Kipchoge’s success comes from routine,consistency and discipline —and farming is the same.
• Plan what you will feed when and do it on schedule/Plan and do vaccination without fail
• Maintain hygiene in shelters
• Monitor animals daily
👉🏿Small daily discipline beats occasional big effort.
“No human is limited” You are not limited by your land size, money, or current herd—only by how much you’re willing to learn, adapt, and stay consistent.
I learnt in Regvic Stud’s “Small Stock Success Program” that “Success is when you treat farming as both a livestock system and management system”
