Livestock farmers have been urged to step up tick control measures and enhance animal nutrition in a bid to curb the alarming rise in tick-borne illnesses that are threatening the country’s milk and meat production.
Elgon Kenya, Animal Health Manager, Dr. John Muchibi says there has been a worrying increase in tick-related illnesses particularly the East Coast Fever and is advising farmers to adopt the right spraying techniques and avoid shortcuts that put their livestock at risk.
Every year, over 400,000 livestock across the country die due to diseases, a silent crisis that continues to undermine the country’s milk and meat production. A warning is now being sounded that tick-borne illnesses, particularly East Coast fever are on the rise.
He notes that faulty spray pumps and rushed spraying routines are rendering treatments ineffective leaving livestock exposed to tick-borne diseases and farmers counting losses.
Beyond tick control, livestock farmers should also address animal nutrition since poor feeding is weakening immunity making livestock more susceptible to infections.
