Think twice before you engage in bull fighting

A happy cow produces more milk, meat from an animal that was humanely handled prior to slaughter is sweeter etc.

Dear daktari

I am an ardent reader of your column. I am a farmer in Kitale and I am aware that there are many laws in Kenya which sometimes are disadvantageous to farmers. Kindly educate us on the laws that touch on animal welfare, animal medicines and feed prices. [Wanyonyi]

Thank you Mr Wanyonyi for the question.

Animal laws serve to protect the welfare of the animal and ensure the farmer gets better prices for their produce.

All animal health laws are meant to safeguard animal welfare, ensure beef is safe for human consumption and farmer profits from livestock. Many farmers and the public are oblivious of these benefits, a reason you will see some either abusing animal welfare, disobeying laws and ultimately complaining that livestock farming isn’t paying.

Animal Welfare

Most farmers and the public don’t appreciate the connection between animal welfare and production. The two are closely related. In fact, they are connected in an action reaction fashion. A happy cow produces more milk, meat from an animal that was humanely handled prior to slaughter is sweeter etc. Animals kept in a good environment are likely to give more offsprings to the farmer. Research has shown that donkeys when denied their natural habitat will not cycle – the female will not ovulate and therefore will not breed. Why? because its welfare is interfered with, the jenny will not breed – a reason why animal genetic experts are raising a red flag on donkey meat trade which they fear can decimate donkeys. Donkeys unlike other animals, are hard to breed to increase their numbers.

Laws on animal welfare in Kenya are elaborate and contained in the Prevention of Cruelty of 2012. Under the law, cruelty towards wild and domestic animals is prohibited. This law protects animals from being overworked, denied food and water, abandonment, poisoning, hunting and being killed in a cruel manner. Surprisingly, this Act outlaws bull fighting which is still popular in Western Kenya counties.

Public Health and better prices

Livestock remain the main source of proteins for human beings. But there are a number of diseases that can be spread through meat if basic sanitary standards aren’t observed. Access to international markets is greatly determined by the extent to which these standards are observed by the countries of origin. Farmers in countries where public health laws that relate to animal products are enforced to the letter get better prices for their livestock products. The public is also protected from harmful effects that can arise from livestock products.

Meat Control Act CAP 356 details how meat should be transported, licensing, control and regulation of slaughterhouses and of premises where meat is processed in any manner for human consumption. This Act requires all meat meant for public consumption must be slaughtered in a designated slaughterhouse and the animal to be slaughtered must be examined before and after slaughter. Thereafter, it must be transported in special containers and vehicles. Animal Diseases Act Cap 364, Cattle Cleansing Act CAP 358, Public Health Act among others all contain clauses that work towards containing the spread of notifiable diseases, protecting the public and ensuring animal welfare.

[The writer is winner of Vet of the Year Award (VOYA) 2016 and works with the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council–KENTTEC, [email protected]]