The Narok County Government in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has launched a livestock vaccination campaign that targets about 510, 000 cattle, sheep and goats.
The County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of agriculture and livestock, Ms. Joyce Keshe, said the vaccination exercise would help build the immunity of the animals, thus boosting the value of the livestock.
Among the diseases targeted, she said, are Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease, Lumpy skin disease, sheep & goat pox and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) diseases that are common in the area.
The County official reiterated that the exercise will be free as the farmers will not be expected to pay a shilling, hence calling on all the livestock farmers to avail their livestock for vaccination at the designated areas.
“We assure farmers that we will visit all the wards and villages to vaccinate the livestock. We know they are still suffering from the impact of prolonged dry spell, hence we do not want the animals to move long distances to be vaccinated,” she said.
The County Director for Veterinary Services, Dr. Gideon Nkiasha, expressed confidence that the exercise will help to improve immunity to the emaciated animals and boost milk, meat and hide production.
The exercise began in Mosiro ward in Narok East Sub County, where livestock was severely affected by drought and will extend to cover the entire county.
“510, 000 animals are like a quarter of the livestock we have in the county. This exercise will expand until we cover the whole county,” said Dr. Nkiasha.
The drought situation also aggravated the movement of livestock to other counties due to the recent drought, thus fueling the spread of diseases.
Livestock rearing in Narok is one of the main economic activities supporting the majority of rural household livelihoods in food security, employment and income generation.
The County has a Livestock population of 1.2million beef cattle, 300,000 dairy cows, 1.6 million sheep, 880,000 goats, 980,000 donkeys and 650,000 poultry.
By John Kaleke and Ann Salaton
