In early 2019, pastoralists in Turkana County lost 675 camels (Camelus dromedarius) with more than 750,000 at risk due to a severe outbreak of the contagious haemorrhagic septicaemia disease. It was not only a costly economic loss, estimated at 33.7 million Kenya shillings (USD337,000) but also a painful loss of livestock the pastoralists have so … Continue reading
Category Archives: Livestock
Private sector embedded extension model sustains field activities during COVID-19 pandemic
The private sector embedded extension model, popularly known as the dairy farmer assistant model, has enabled the dairy component of the AVCD program continue implementing field activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Using virtual communication tools to support northern Kenya partners during the COVID-19 pandemic
Over the last three months (April–June), the livestock value chain (LVC) team of AVCD program has worked tirelessly to maintain close and consistent communications with the county-based field office staff and the respective county government officials in Turkana, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Marsabit. Continue reading
The private sector can deliver veterinary vaccines in Kenya
On 1 February 2020 the director of veterinary services (DVS), Obadiah Njagi, issued a circular clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in the delivery of veterinary medicines and vaccines across Kenya in accordance with the existing laws and regulations. Continue reading
When Participatory Approaches Mess up Your Plans
I never imagined that this man who had brought his herd into this other community’s pastures and flouted the community’s grazing rules, and whose actions had disrupted our training workshop would become a champion of our approach. The Interrupted Workshop I had come to Turkana County in northwestern Kenya to be part of a team … Continue reading
Can the private sector deliver livestock vaccines in Kenya? Yes, they can
At a meeting held on 18 July 2019 in Isiolo, Kenya, livestock sector stakeholders committed to implement eight resolutions that offer solutions that will guide future practice and encourage private sector investment in animal health service delivery: Continue reading
Bulk milk chilling and pasteurizing plants great opportunity for cooperatives to run as a business
The AVCD project handed over bulk milk chilling and pasteurizing plants to cooperative societies of Kericho, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Makueni counties of Kenya in mid January and March 2019. Continue reading
Improved herd management technologies for enhancing livestock productivity: Embedding innovations through community groups
ILRI, through the USAID funded AVCD project – Livestock Component has implemented interventions to improve sheep and goat productivity in Kenya, through better herd breeding and management. The project has developed a series of manuals on ‘Best Practices for Selective Breeding for Improved Livestock Productivity.’ Continue reading
Spatial planning to spur rangeland-based development across northern Kenya’s ‘frontier counties’
Originally posted on Sustainable livestock systems:
By Irene Nganga and Lance Robinson Spatial planning is often perceived as being synonymous with ‘urban planning’. However, its scope is much wider, encompassing both rural and urban land use as well as environmental planning and strategizing future development. Local experts from northern Kenya map livestock routes for input…
Livestock traders gain at USAID- and ILRI-supported forum
Enthusiastic traders from several counties in northern Kenya and from across the border in Ethiopia joined a livestock trade facilitation forum in Marsabit, Kenya on 9 May 2018. By close of business, participating livestock buyers and sellers signed contracts for a total of 5,373 livestock at a value of USD 406,774. The United States Agency … Continue reading