Adoption and Impacts of Animal Health Management Practices in Kenya’s Dairy Sector

Abstract

Current trends in population growth and increased demand for animal-sourced foods (ASF) present opportunities for many livestock farmers in the Global South. However, poor health conditions in livestock production continue to cause sizeable losses. Accessing and utilizing important animal health services is still challenging for many resource-constrained farmers. Thus, interventions to increase access to these services would be an important policy objective towards sustainable livestock intensification. However, to better design policies, there is a need to also understand the potential implications - both social and environmental - of these animal health management practices. This dissertation seeks to contribute to the literature through three essays, focusing on various relevant aspects in dairy systems in Kenya. The research uses primary data collected through surveys and experiments with dairy farmers and econometric methods for data analysis.<br /> In the first essay, we explore how to better design animal health service provision through dairy cooperatives using a choice experiment. Results provide evidence of farmers’ preferences for institutional innovations that overcome technical and liquidity constraints in accessing the East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccine. This is also likely to hold for other animal health services. In the second essay, we provide empirical evidence that the adoption of these practices is associated with more labor demand for men and women in livestock production activities. The findings also show negative associations with different aspects of women empowerment including access to and control over income and productive resources. Lastly, in the third essay, using regressions and the environmental impact quotient (EIQ), we show improper acaracide use practices – an important preventive practice against ticks – are associated with increased potential negative effects on the environment and human health.<br /> The findings of this study underscore the important role that collective institutions such as dairy cooperatives can play in providing last-mile access to technologies including animal health services. However, future policy interventions on sustainable intensification of livestock production should be gender-sensitive. Further, we advocate for the design of policies that promote the responsible use of acaricides and call for the promotion of environmentally friendly approaches in vector control in livestock systems.2