www.livestockeastafrica.com contents <strong>Mar</strong>ch - <strong>Apr</strong>il 2016 Editor’s Peek 14 EMERGING LIVES Why we all need a rabbit Livestock Management Policy holding back livestock sector 30 10 DAIRY FARMING Towards a climatesmart dairy farming ANIMAL HEALTH The livestock disease headache 20 Welcome to the premier publication of ‘Livestock East Africa’, a peerless regional magazine on all matters livestock. Founded on the basis of a noble concern regarding the scarcity of information on livestock farming in the region, Livestock East Africa seeks to credibly inform, educate and enlighten all players in the livestock sector with a long term objective of seeing the accomplishment of the full potential that livestock farming in the region holds. Towards this worthwhile cause the publication will be delving into beef farming, dairy farming, rabbit keeping, apiculture, poultry, camel keeping, domestic pets, fish farming just to mention a few. In this first issue that you now hold in your hands, ‘Livestock East Africa’ takes a special focus on animal welfare, livestock management in counties, leather development, livestock and finance, livestock policies, livestock marketing, law and livestock, animal health, animal feeds, and a segment on emerging livestock. To this end we engage a farmer and a veterinary officer in Nyeri County, one Dr. Gakuo Mwangi on the procedure of using feedlot feeding system in finishing beef cattle. An insight on rabbit keeping from the Ngong Breeding and Training Centre forms the peak of our focus on emerging livestock and the untapped potential it holds. As regards the leather sector, we comprehensively investigate what it will take to revamp the winning ways of Kenya’s leather industry. An informative piece about livestock insurance and marketing also comes to you just in time to illuminate the economic and financial dynamics of livestock farming in the region. Poor animal health being the biggest inhibitor to the full livestock prosperity in the region, our Chief Correspondent Tobias Belle engages Kenya’s Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Kisa Juma Ngeiywa in an exclusive interview to investigate the status of livestock disease control in Kenya and East Africa. But that’s not all. As you hungrily flip the pages for more of the credible content we have for you, get into our ‘Herder’s Kitchen’ and find out what we have prepared for you in our delicious recipe. The Livestock sector in Kenya alone contributes about 10 per cent of the GDP, and plays an equally significant role in the economies of Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. This implies that ignoring this key component of our economies can have catastrophic consequences. Preventing such unfortunate outcome is the sole purpose of ‘Livestock East Africa’, which now has a regional reach. In tandem with our slogan of learn, breed and earn, we will continue to engage all stakeholders in the livestock sector, from farmers, producers, the private sector, county governments, the national government and corporations in a collective effort towards positive livestock transformation. Welcome once again to this edition, enjoy the read and together let’s kick start this journey of great promise and potential. Mbugua Njoroge Managing Editor 19 POULTRY FARMING The KARI improved kienyeji chicken 19 CAMEL FARMING Intriguing camel facts Managing Editor Mbugua Njoroge editor@livestockeastafrica.com Administration and Logistics Manager Dianah Ngina ngina@livestockeastafrica.com Correspondent Tobias Belle tobias@livestockeastafrica.com <strong>Mar</strong>keting Two Third <strong>Mar</strong>keting Solutions advertising@livestockeastafrica.com moses@livestockeastafrica.com +254 773 896 861, +254 721 489 665 Writers Paul Wanyagah Abdikarim Daud Aamera Jiwaji Susan Onyango Kamau Ireri Creatives Eddie Concepts gichics@gmail.com Printers Colour Print Kampala, Uganda Contact: Partick Joram Mugisha Tel: +256-782-540893/ +256-706-340893 pharmchem82@gmail.com or mugisha@livestockeastafrica.com Kigali, Rwanda Contact: Emmanuel Mugabe Tel: +250-788-625 725 emmamugabe@gmail.com or mugabe@livestockeastafrica.com Disclaimer: Livestock East Africa does not necessarily share the views of contributors. No responsibility can be accepted for opinions expressed by contributors, or claims made by advertisers within this publication. Livestock East Africa is published by Goldthrift Limited Bishop Magua Centre, Ngong Road, P.O Box 10475 00200, Nairobi Kenya Cell: +254 721 489 665, editor@livestockeastafrica.com, www.livestockeastafrica.com No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. 4 Livestock East Africa <strong>Mar</strong>ch - <strong>Apr</strong>il 2016 Learn • Breed • Earn Learn • Breed • Earn <strong>Mar</strong>ch 2016 - <strong>Apr</strong>il 2016 Livestock East Africa 5