NEW PROJECT November 2009
Mitigating the impact of drought by protecting livestock breeding herds through vaccination and de-stocking 
Kajiado and Oloitoktok districts of Kenya

Funded by: FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations)

In Kenya, breeding herds of cattle and small ruminants are valuable assets for pastoralists, but many suffer losses due to poor rains, conflicts and diseases. Animals become weak and more susceptible to disease.

This project improves disease control by targeted vaccinations against major endemic diseases to protect the breeding herd and small stock.

Activities:

• Raise awareness of the programme throughout the district to ensure their full co-operation.
• Planned courses and refresher training for CAHW and vaccination teams.
• Targeted vaccination against major disease to protect breeding herd.
• Vaccination teams are given kits stocked with basic drugs to treat cases of endemic diseases.

East Coast Fever (ECF) represents the biggest risk to the cattle breeding herds and calves, killing 30-50% of herds. Although a vaccine is available, there is a low uptake because of the high price.

VETAID is creating awareness on a ‘de-stocking for vaccine’ approach.

The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) support de-stocking. This reduces the herd and optimises the performance of the remaining breeding herd. The KMC purchases non-breeding animals from pastoralists, then the breeding herds are vaccinated at cost. KMC then pay the owners for cattle, but deduct costs of vaccine. This ensures pastoralists have a healthy breeding herd that can bring in much needed income.

14,000 households will directly benefit from this project because livestock mortality will be reduced by 50%. Increase of productivity allows smallholder producers to spare some income and be able to purchase seeds for the following year.