Essential Vaccinations for Dairy Cattle in Kenya

Proper vaccination is essential for maintaining a healthy and productive dairy herd. Here's your complete guide to dairy cattle vaccinations in Kenya.

## Why Vaccination Matters - Prevents costly disease outbreaks - Protects your investment in livestock - Ensures food safety for consumers - Reduces antibiotic use

Essential Vaccines

### Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) - Frequency: Every 4-6 months - Critical in endemic areas - Required for animal movement permits

### Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) - Frequency: Annually, before rainy season - Highly contagious viral disease - Causes significant milk production losses

### Black Quarter (Anthrax) - Frequency: Annually - Fatal if not prevented - Required in high-risk areas

### Brucellosis - One-time vaccination for heifers - Prevents reproductive losses - Important for milk quality

## Vaccination Schedule January-February: FMD, LSD July-August: FMD, Black Quarter Year-round: Deworming program

## Storage and Handling - Keep vaccines refrigerated at 2-8°C - Never freeze vaccines - Use within expiry date - Dispose of needles safely