Nakuru County Veterinary Director Dr. Onesmous Getui has called on the counties accept to carry out coordinated vaccination of livestock for efficient containment of animal diseases.
Dr. Getui said collaborated vaccination has the capacity of reducing livestock diseases faster than the habitual un-coordinated exercises which are carried out by the counties at various times.
He observed that un-coordinated animal vaccinations have cost the country millions of shillings and unless streamlined, efforts to prevent animal diseases will remain a mirage.
In addition, he said Nakuru County was currently planning for routine vaccination of animals in January next year, but they have embarked on early preparations because they are in the process of persuading other neighboring counties to come on board.
Speaking to KNA in his office Thursday, the veterinary director expressed concerns that despite the high economic losses incurred when farmers lose their animals to manageable diseases, majority of the people have not yet appreciated that animal diseases don’t respect boundaries.
Dr. Getui said Nakuru was leading in the dairy industry countrywide and he called on other counties to learn from them, the importance of preventing livestock diseases since it was not only cheaper, but also improves farmers’ earnings in terms of production.
He noted that some livestock farmers had actually appreciated the value of vaccination and they are now able report their counterparts found violating livestock movement by-laws, for instance buying or transporting animals across the counties, without following the laid down procedures.
The director said the county’s milk production at the moment stood at 325 million litres annually and with the emerging crop of disciplined livestock farmers who value vaccinations, the trend can only rise.
At the same time, he noted that coordinated vaccination was not just meant for livestock only, but equally for other domestic animals such as dogs in order to contain manageable diseases such as rabies, which was eradicated in other countries long time ago.
He urged livestock farmers to perceive their animals as part of the family set up and once such a positive attitude was established, animal care automatically improves, leading to improved production.
The director disclosed that the upcoming vaccination will target common animal diseases such as foot and mouth, lumpy skin diseases, Rift Valley Fever and Anthrax among others.
By Veronica Bosibori
