Govt boosts livestock Sector with herd health training for AHSPs
TANGA: ANIMAL Health Service Providers (AHSPs) in Tanzania have been empowered to implement herd health interventions aimed at promoting sustainable livestock productivity.
A three-day training session brought together 24 AHSPs and District Livestock Officers from the districts of Hai, Siha, Rombo, and Moshi Rural in Kilimanjaro Region as well as Muheza and Korogwe in Tanga Region.
The Herd Health Field Coordinator at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Dr Sijali Zikankuba said that the training aimed to equip AHSPs with the skills and knowledge necessary to apply the herd health approach in delivering technologies and best husbandry practices to smallholder dairy farmers, ultimately fostering sustainable livestock productivity in Tanzania.
“This training takes a holistic approach, not only addressing immediate health concerns but also focusing on long-term improvements in livestock management,” Dr Zikankuba said.
Moreover, the AHSPs were trained on the use of Open Data Kit (ODK), an open-source mobile data collection tool that allows users to fill out forms offline and send the data to a server once a connection is available. The system enables the data to be accessed, downloaded, and acted upon when needed.
The training also covered key areas for improving dairy herd health among smallholder farmers, using the Herd Health Assessment Manual as a guide.
Dr Zikankuba explained that participants learned about disease prevention and management, with an emphasis on routine deworming to control internal parasites and vaccination schedules for diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).
Other topics included East Coast Fever (ECF), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and brucellosis, along with essential biosecurity measures such as quarantine, isolation, and proper waste disposal.
“Nutrition and feeding management is a critical area, focusing on the formulation of balanced rations using locally available feeds to meet energy and protein requirements at various physiological stages, “said a researcher from the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Mr Walter Mangesho.
He explained that participants also delved into calf and heifer management, covering key practices such as colostrum feeding, growth monitoring and assessing reproductive readiness to ensure effective herd replacement.
Mr Mangesho further highlighted that the training addressed housing and environmental management, with a focus on proper ventilation, space optimization, and waste handling. Reproductive health, including heat detection and artificial insemination (AI), was also a key area of focus for the AHSPs.
“The structured agenda ensured that participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience in applying herd health practices, which will help foster sustainable livestock productivity in the region,” Mr Mangesho said.
