February 28, 2023

Makueni County, Kenya, begins vaccination for 20,000 livestock

The government of Makueni County, Kenya, through the Department of Agriculture, has started a vaccination exercise against contagious diseases targeting 200,000 livestock.

Makueni County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of Agriculture, livestock, Fisheries, Irrigation and Cooperative development Joyce Mutua said the vaccination will be against foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease in cattle while sheep and goats will be vaccinated for pneumonia and goat plague.

She added that the vaccination exercise aims at increasing household incomes of dairy farmers in the area through reduction of livestock diseases.

"We are implementing this programme in partnership with Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited which aims at increasing household incomes of dairy farmers in the county by livestock diseases," said Mutua.

Mutua added that the county is providing vaccines and staff while the cooperative society is providing logistical support by aggregating targeted animals for vaccination.

The department is also conducting farmer sensitisation on livestock disease control and urged farmers to avail their animals for vaccination to prevent diseases.

Livestock will be vaccinated at a preferred central point and farmers' homes.

The exercise will last until the end of March.

- Kenya News Agency