Scientists look to technology to safeguard against diseases

Livestock production on smallholder farms is the most prevalent form of agriculture globally and it produces over half of the world’s protein supply.
Yet countries with large numbers of these farms are also home to half of the world’s undernourished population with majority of the people living in absolute poverty.
With Sub-Sahara Africa having some of the highest growing population, veterinary scientists argue that to help solve this challenge, there is need to improve livestock health to better farmers’ livelihoods.
As such the scientists under their umbrella body Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) jointly with development partners have devised means to come up with technologies that can be used to monitor animal health.
This is in a bid to keep the animals safe from zoonotic diseases which also affect humans such as Anthrax, Ebola, East Congo Haemorrhagic Fever and Nagana, among others.
The president of UVA, Dr Sylvia Baluku Angubua, while explaining modalities of animal safety and animal health during the organisation’s annual conference noted that the challenge of reaching out to the farmers in the rural areas is still holding them back.
She points out the necessity for government to provide the necessary facilitation in order to enable timely reporting of outbreaks of diseases to avoid further spread, leading to massive death of animals.
One of the technologies developed is an App with facilities for vet doctors to monitor animal health through rapid reporting and responses and others are sensitising farmers to follow the right practices for animal welfare in order to keep them safe.

App solution
Dr Jeremiah Karuga, the regional manager of Zoetis, an organisation focusing on advocating for animal health for improved productivity, explains how scientists can use an app termed as labcards for effective disease surveillance.
He notes that the target of the app is to carry out research which can lead to manufacture of the right animal pharmaceutical products, study the genetics of animals, carry out diagnostics and administering of the right treatment for sick animals.
The app contains features for identifying an animal or poultry showing challenge in their health and outbreak of a disease in a specific area.
Scientists are, therefore, advised to take blood samples, feacal matter or saliva, make a description which is sent to the nearest laboratory for diagnostics by mobile phones.
The lab technician will be able to give feedback acknowledging receipt of the sample and consequently give results of the test for the vet doctor to act promptly.
According to Dr Karuga, this will reduce the rampant use of undiagnosed antibiotics which farmers administer to animals.
Dr Karuga and the team have helped in setting up labs in various parts of the country to make the work of the vet doctor easy. Instead of sending samples to the government lab in Entebbe, vet doctors can now do this in the district labs.
What can farmers do?
Dr Brian Nicholas Arinaitwe, a vet field officer with Africa Livestock Productivity Initiative, explains that it is important to observe the biosecurity measures by making those handling animals use disinfectants before handling any animal. This applies to people who are visiting farms.
“Ensure there is good housing for the animals and in case the animals are kept in an open kraal, ensure there is warmth for them and do not expose them under rainy conditions,” he says.
He adds that animals should be vaccinated against major tick-borne diseases such as foot and mouth disease. It is also important to dip the animals to keep them healthy as well as observe general hygiene practices by keeping the housing and animal kraal clean. Any signs of sickness must be referred to a vet doctor and farmers must avoid self - treatment of animals.
Feeding with the required pasture, including supplementary feeds which contain salt, and other protein such as soy cake and dried hay during dry season as well as provision of silage. Nutritional levels should also be adequate to promote animal health, growth and production and this is possible by providing nutritional feed.
He says in case of infection, diseased animals should be separated from healthy ones to limit the damage. Breeding is also key in such instances and the vet advocates for selection of animals suited to local conditions.
“Acquire animals breeding stock only from sources with a known, safe health status, where possible with supporting health certificates from veterinarians,” he says.
Source fresh or frozen semen, ova and embryos from sources with a known, safe health status, accredited by the competent authority of the country of origin, with appropriate health certification.
Farmers should also keep newly arrived animals separate from resident stock for an appropriate period for monitoring purposes and infestations. Dr Arinaitwe says: “Ensure that newly arrived animals are given time to adapt to new feeding regimes, are not overcrowded and that their health is regularly monitored.”
It is also important to ensure that equipment and instruments used in animal husbandry are suitably cleaned and disinfected between each use.
To address biochemical hazards, farmers should use herbicides and pesticides judiciously and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
He recommends that once a farmer is capable of observing the above practices, then he or she will face minimal challenges in as far as management of animal health is concerned and achieve better animal breeds.

Advice
Breeding is also key in disease control with vets advocating for selection of animals suited to local conditions.
Farmers should also keep newly-arrived animals separate from resident stock for an appropriate period for monitoring purposes and infestations.
In case of herbicides, Dr Arinaitwe suggests using them judiciously according to the manufacturer’s instructions.