The County Director of Livestock in Meru has raised concern over delays in the ongoing livestock vaccination exercise, warning that uncontrolled movement of animals from upper eastern regions is increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
According to Dr. Timothy Mutugi, pastoralist herds moving in search of pasture are exposing livestock in the County to contagious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, threatening the region’s animal health and productivity.
He noted that although the County has launched a mass vaccination campaign, the registration process for livestock owners has significantly slowed down implementation.
“Although the process of registering farmers is important, we need to be swift in vaccinating our animals against the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, which can wipe out entire herds,” Dr. Mutugi said.
He added that the County has so far managed to vaccinate about 20,000 animals, a figure that remains far below the targeted coverage needed to ensure herd immunity across the region.
“We are afraid that we may lose livestock to diseases such as foot and mouth and other communicable infections because the registration process is taking too long,” he warned.
Dr. Mutugi said his office is conducting awareness campaigns to educate livestock farmers on the importance of vaccination, noting that many farmers still neglect the exercise due to lack of adequate information.
He urged farmers to embrace regular vaccination to prevent losses in the event of disease outbreaks and to safeguard their livelihoods, which heavily depend on livestock production.
The livestock director also cautioned farmers on the economic implications of failing to meet international animal health standards, noting that unvaccinated animals fetch lower prices in export markets such as the United Arab Emirates compared to those from countries with strong animal health systems.
“In UAE markets, our farmers lose up to Sh4,000 per goat compared to other countries that have embraced vaccination. Our meat is often priced lower due to concerns over animal health standards,” he said.
Dr. Mutugi further urged farmers to strengthen biosecurity measures on their farms and control animal movement to reduce the spread of diseases.
He noted that Meru County relies heavily on agriculture, with livestock estimated at about 450,000 herds, making animal health a critical component of the local economy.
Dr. Mutugi also advised farmers to invest in growing fodder crops for their animals, citing rising costs of commercial animal feeds that many households can no longer afford.
By Muguongo Judy
