Dairy Cattle Vaccination Schedule in Kenya

Complete vaccination schedule for dairy cattle in Kenya, covering major diseases and KEVEVAPI-recommended vaccines for Friesian, Ayrshire and Jersey cows.

Introduction

Vaccination is the most cost-effective way to protect your dairy herd from infectious diseases. In Kenya, KEVEVAPI (Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute) produces affordable vaccines for all major livestock diseases.

Key Principle

Only vaccinate healthy animals. Sick animals should be treated first before vaccination.

Dairy Cattle Vaccination Schedule

Disease	Vaccine	Age of First Dose	Booster	Frequency
Foot & Mouth (FMD)	FMD Vaccine (KEVEVAPI)	4 months+	1 month after first	Every 6 months
East Coast Fever (ECF)	Muguga Cocktail	3 months+	None needed	Once (lifelong)
Lumpy Skin Disease	LSD Vaccine	3 months+	-	Annually
Rift Valley Fever	RVF Vaccine	3 months+	-	Every 3 years
Brucellosis	S19 Vaccine	4-8 months (heifers only)	-	Once (lifelong)
Black Quarter (BQ)	BQ Vaccine	6 months+	-	Annually
Haemorrhagic Septicaemia	HS Vaccine	6 months+	-	Annually
Anthrax	Anthrax Spore Vaccine	6 months+	-	Annually in endemic areas

East Coast Fever (ECF) - Critical in Kenya

ECF is the biggest killer of cattle in Kenya, spread by the brown ear tick.

Prevention:

Vaccination with Muguga Cocktail (one-time, provides lifelong immunity)
Regular dipping/spraying with acaricides (weekly in wet season)
Tick-resistant breeds where possible

Symptoms:

Swollen lymph nodes (parotid, pre-scapular)
High fever (40-41°C)
Nasal discharge, difficulty breathing
Death in 10-14 days if untreated

Treatment:

Buparvaquone (Butalex) - only effective treatment
Must be administered early (within 3-4 days of fever)

Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD)

FMD is highly contagious and causes significant production losses.

Symptoms:

Blisters on mouth, feet, teats
Excessive salivation, lameness
Drop in milk production

Vaccination:

Vaccinate every 6 months - essential in endemic areas
Vaccinate before dry season when movement increases

Deworming Schedule

Age/Category	Product	Frequency
Calves (1-3 months)	Albendazole or Ivermectin	Monthly
Growing cattle	Albendazole or Levamisole	Every 3 months
Adult cows	Ivermectin injectable	Every 6 months
Pre-calving cows	Ivermectin	2-4 weeks before calving

Signs Your Cow Needs Deworming

Weight loss despite good feeding
Poor coat condition (rough, dull)
Bottle jaw (fluid under jaw)
Reduced milk production
Diarrhea, especially in calves

Where to Get Vaccines

KEVEVAPI: P.O. Box 53260-00200, Nairobi - kevevapi.or.ke
Agrovet shops - keep KEVEVAPI vaccines
County Veterinary Department - subsidized vaccines
Kenya Veterinary Board registered vets

Record Keeping

Keep a vaccination card for each animal recording:

Animal ID/name
Disease vaccinated against
Date of vaccination
Next due date
Vaccine batch number