Livestock Health and Management Following East Coast Fever Immunisations of Cattle in Kiambu

Abstract

East Coast fever, caused by the tick borne protozoan parasite Theileria Parva is a disease of high mortality rate in cattle and the principal disease constraint in Kenya. In smallholder dairy production systems in high potential areas the disease is predominant cause of mortality of animals before they enter their first lactation and thereby reduces the replacement of animals, and thereby the domestic economy whereby cattle are an important asset to be sold at times of financial or social need. Immunisation for the purpose of demonstration of the efficacy of immunisation against ECf was conducted in Kiambu in smallholder dairy farms in 1995-96.