Livestock farmers from Riakemuma village, Sameta Sub-County have been challenged to embrace calf vaccination against pneumonia attacks which lead to deaths of calves.
A local animal health specialist, Marucha Onchagwa, has raised concern over the majority of the local livestock farmers’ reluctance to take health issues of their stocks seriously, exposing their calves to pneumonia attacks.
Speaking on Thursday morning at Riakemuma Village, during a village stakeholders development meeting, Onchagwa stressed the importance of livestock keepers embracing animal vaccination to protect their livestock against diseases and other environment-driven ailments.
Onchagwa disclosed that pneumonia, which is caused by a common flu-like virus which poses a threat to calves, leads to deaths if not handled immediately.
"Severe pneumonia with rapid infections can prove fatal within 24 hours, especially for the first few cases of an outbreak making secondary bacterial pneumonia much more likely," stated Onchagwa.
He said severe pneumonia is more likely to occur by infection with the viruses above, poor ventilation and housing hygiene.
He advised livestock keepers that the most accurate way to find out which bugs are causing an ailment in your stock and what vaccine would be appropriate in your herd is to have your vet test the young ones of your livestock.