Kenya adopts digital livestock registration to enhance dairy sector

KENYA – Kirinyaga County has launched a digital livestock registration programme using muzzle identification to create a national database for tracking, planning, and delivering veterinary services.

The initiative runs alongside a mass vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), targeting 80,000 cattle nationwide, according to Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation.

Each animal has a unique muzzle pattern, similar to human fingerprints, providing an accurate and tamper-proof identification method. Veterinary teams are visiting farms directly, combining vaccination and registration to improve service efficiency and data collection.

The exercise, being conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Veterinary Services, has so far reached over 11,000 cattle as the exercise enters its second week, with teams moving across villages to deliver the service to farmers.

Governor Waiguru said the project is part of her administration’s broader strategy to transform the dairy sector with the aim of boosting household incomes through a stronger dairy value chain.

She noted that the county has been implementing concerted interventions, including the provision of Artificial Insemination (AI) services to over 150 households, which has helped improve dairy breeds.

She added that with the improved breeds now requiring better nutrition, the county is focusing on increasing the availability of animal feeds and fodder to support higher productivity.

Speaking at Kiaritha during the exercise, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries, Dr. John Gachara, said the county is working closely with the national government to eliminate the disease.

“We are currently undertaking our annual vaccination programme and targeting to make Kirinyaga a FMD disease-free zone.” said Dr. Gachara, noting that the integration of digital registration will enhance livestock management and improve responsiveness to farmers’ needs.

The conventional methods of identification, such as visual identification, neck chains, ear tags, collar tags, leg tags and tattoos have their own drawbacks like data tampering, health problems and high costs.

The adoption of digital tools follows Kakamega County’s strengthening of the dairy sector with the commissioning of an Artificial Insemination (AI) Station at Springfield Farmers Cooperative Society in Likuyani Sub-County.

The AI Station is an initiative of the National and County Government through the NAVCDP Project under the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), supporting Governor Barasa’s Food Security and Wealth Creation agenda.

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