County launches vaccination drive to contain foot and mouth outbreak

PHILIP ONYANGO- KNA

Amass livestock vaccination exercise against foot-andmouth disease has kicked off in Siaya County, with the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services urging farmers to ensure their cattle are vaccinated.

Speaking during a vaccination exercise at Majengo Primary School grounds in Usigu Sub County, the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), Siaya County Co-ordinator, Vincent Okoth, said the aim of the campaign was to address animal health issues, so as to enable farmers access market.

He said that Siaya and the neighbouring counties, regularly record outbreaks of the foot and mouth disease that affects both dairy and red meat value chains.

“Foot and mouth disease makes the cost of livestock production high,” he said, adding that during the vaccination exercise, farmers will be paying a subsidized rate of Sh50 per cow, while the government, through the NAVCDP, will pay the balance of Sh110.

Okoth said during the exercise, the animals will also be registered through the muzzle technology to help identify them in case of theft and transfer to other areas. 

The County DIirector of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Dr. Otieno Owino said that Siaya targets to vaccinate 115,000 cattle during the on-going exercise.

Dr. Owino said that the foot and mouth disease vaccination drive was part of the countrywide campaign aimed at controlling and eventual eradicating the disease all together.

“If we can vaccinate 70 per cent of all the animals, we will be able to contain this disease,” he said, urging farmers to avail their animals.

Bondo Sub-County Veterinary Officer, Dr. Clay Ngoye, said the registration of cattle using the muzzle technology, will help reduce cattle theft.

“Just like human being use thumb prints for identification, the new technology helps in the identification of an animal,” he said.

A livestock farmer, Joseph Buoga Ogumbo, hailed both the national and county government for the initiative, but called for timely information on the venues to enable farmers avail their livestock on time.