Press Releases

October 11, 2007. Lusaka

U.S. Government Helps Zambian Cattle Owners in Making their Animals Healthier

Lusaka - The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Zambia, Mr. Michael Koplovsky, today observed the vaccination, de-worming, and dipping of cattle during a visit to the Lwiimba Community Service Site in Chongwe District.  The program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Production Finance and Technology Project (PROFIT), a five-year, $17 million program that seeks to improve the lives of Zambian smallholder cattle owners. 

PROFIT focuses on helping smallholder cattle owners maintain healthy animals by giving them access to private veterinary services.  The lack of veterinary access has been a major challenge for Zambian farmers over the past decade.
 
Dr. Stanley Njovu attends to the Lwiimba Community. With assistance from PROFIT, Dr. Njovu has designed the Herd Health Plan (HHP) for cattle-owning communities.  Lwiimba, Nyangwena, and Chitentabunga communities have implemented HHP for the past 18 months. Through the Plan, 700 animals now receive preventive health care services.  Dr. Njovu is one of 10 veterinarians offering herd health plans across the country.  There are around 5,000 cattle on contract with a further 15,000 to 20,000 animals receiving regular care through one-off services throughout the country.

According to a recent analysis, smallholder utilization of private veterinary services has resulted in an estimated 48 percent decline in livestock disease and a 70 percent reduction in cattle death.  In a recent survey of 50 households, it was observed that an investment of $750 per year in preventive health care resulted in reduced cattle mortality, representing an avaerage saving of $8,750 per year.  In addition, healthier cattle have increased weight and calving rates.

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