Al-Qoze Farm & Estate Management

13/04/2026

12/09/2025

THE BALAMI EXPERIENCE 🐏

I remember the very first time I sent a Balami ram to a farmer from the West. The moment people around him heard he bought that young Balami for 70k, they almost caused trōuble. They kept telling him he was cheāted, that the animal shouldn’t cost more than 50k.

Even the driver who helped him transport it from Ogere to Abeokuta joined the talk, saying the ram wasn’t worth it. That day, we had serious gbas gbos because he didn’t want to balance me the remaining money. It was his first time owning a Balami, so I explained to him:
“Balami is not like your regular local breeds. They grow differently, they have larger frames, and they don’t reach their peak immediately.”

But he still compared it to what people said he would get in Kara market. I simply asked him, “If Kara was truly the answer, why didn’t you buy from Kara?”

Not up to a year later, we spoke again. This same farmer told me:
“Alhaji, thank you for that Balami. It’s growing so fast and bigger than the others at my farm.”

Recently, he even sent me a video of the animal, and I couldn’t help but smile. I asked him, “Is this the same ram you almost fought me for at 70k?”

Honestly, I initially felt cheated that day when he refused to balance me. But later, I realized his intention wasn’t to cheat but it was lack of knowledge about the breed, plus those “advisers” around him who won’t mind their own business. Deep down, he had a good heart, and he later proved it with his honest review.

The truth is, he actually bought a lamb that looked very small at the time. Not even the first grade he bought at that time, not even the second grade, that’s like the third category but I thank Allah that the Balami survived and he was able to see the true potential and result. Because had it been he lost that ram early, he might never have understood the rare gem he had.

And let me say this clearly: you may be in livestock for years, but if you don’t have experience in a particular breed, please don’t advise others wrongly.

For example, one of my boys is very good with cattle. That’s his field. He rears, treats, buys, and resells cattle. He goes to the cattle market every week to trade. One day, he saw me buy two female Balami at the market for 1.2 million (600k each). He looked at me and said:
“Oga, this money can easily buy us two good bulls. Why spend that kind of money on just ewes?”

I only smiled, because that’s not his field. To him, it looked like a waste, but in Balami breeding, it was a sound investment.

👉 Moral of the story: Not every livestock person is experienced in every breed. If you don’t know, don’t mislead others with half-knowledge. And don’t come asking me for a Balami of 70k oooooo😂. That was then, when the purchasing power was still fair. Today, that same size will cost you between 150k–200k. Toor!

Knowledge is wealth. Ignorance is expensive. Choose wisely.