Transforming herd health into an integrated package for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya

On 24–25 July 2023, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) held a consultation, Exploring opportunities for improving uptake of integrated herd health plans by smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Representatives from the national and county government, pharmaceutical companies and last mile animal healthcare providers gathered to co-design a herd health plan under the CGIAR initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity (SAPLING) that aims to attract private sector investment to enhance the productivity and profitability of dairy value chains while promoting healthy consumption of animal-sourced foods in Kenya.

At the end of the consultation, the various stakeholders agreed that a sustainable herd health plan should package animal health services, digital tools for surveillance and a business model for herd health delivery.

Harry Oyas, deputy director in charge of disease control at the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, shared his thoughts on the SAPLING initiative and herd health approach:

This initiative will track what is happening at farm level to see whether we are contributing to farmers’ livelihoods or just doing the same things over and over again. Herd health is a multidisciplinary approach, and in the end, the farmer will benefit. The farmer will really appreciate it if you can make his bank balance and profit and loss sheet improve.

Read the full article on CGIAR.org.

SAPLING Kenya activities will be presented at ILRI's side event, 'Towards an integrated delivery of proven productivity enhancing innovations in livestock – a market systems approach,' at the 8th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture (AACAA) from 26-29 September in Gaborone, Botswana.