Cost analysis of immunisation against east coast fever on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya.
A spreadsheet model was developed and used to estimate the total cost of immunising cattle against East Coast fever (ECF) based on the infection-and-treatment method. Using data from an immunisation trial carried out on 102 calves and yearlings on 64 farms in the Githunguri division, Kiambu district, Kenya, a reference base scenario of a mean herd of five animals, a 10% rate of reaction to immunisation and a 2-day interval monitoring regimen (a total of 10 farm visits) was simulated. Under these conditions, the mean cost of immunisation per animal was US$16.48 (Ksh 955.78); this was equivalent to US$82.39 (Ksh 4778.90) per five-animal farm. A commonly reported reactor rate of 3% would decrease the cost of US$14.63 (Ksh 848.29) per animal. Reducing the number of farm monitoring visits from 10 to 7 would reduce the total cost by 10%, justified if farmers are trained to undertake some of the monitoring work. The fixed costs were 53% of the total cost of immunisation per farm. The cost of immunisation decreased with increasing number of animals per farm, showing economies of scale.
Muraguri
G R
GR
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Veterinary Research Centre, Muguga, Kikuyu, Kenya.
Mbogo
S K
SK
McHardy
N
N
Kariuki
D P
DP
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D007114:Immunization / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary*; D007630:Kenya; D018803:Models, Economic; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*