Livestock farmers from Olesheiki in Mavoko subcounty have gotten reprieved following a free vaccination exercise courtesy of the Machakos County Government.
Some 567 cattle were vaccinated against anthrax, black quarter and dewormed while 946 sheep and goats were vaccinated against sheep and goat pox.
The sheep and goats were also dewormed during the exercise that was conducted in Olesheiki sublocation, Athi River ward on Friday.
Athi River Township MCA Jeremiah Kaloi said the exercise also included tick control (acaricides).
Kaloi said the exercise aims to ensure disease control, quality breeds, value addition and increase in livestock prices.
“Livestock farming is greatly contributing to income and wealth generation across Machakos County hence the need to safeguard animal health through vaccination,” Kaloi said.
Kaloi spoke to the Star by phone on Saturday.
He said besides the vaccination exercise, the farmers were also educated on good animal husbandry practices by the Machakos County Government’s veterinary officers.
“Enhancing food security and boosting income levels for livestock farmers is the main objective of this exercise as envisaged in Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s clarion call 'Chakula mezani, pesa mfukoni'" he said.
Kaloi said he was engaging the Livestock department in Machakos to support the only cattle dip in Machakos county located at Olesheiki by providing acaricides which are expensive in the market.
“Lots of diseases are brought by ticks, this area is bordering the Nairobi National park hence wildlife which carry lots of ticks mingle with livestock causing great danger to livestock farmers,” Kaloi said.
