Risk Factors Associated with Livestock Feeding and Disease Control Practices in the Peri-Urban Slums of Kisumu City, Kenya

Livestock feeding practices present food safety concerns to consumers who are aware of food safety and their linkage to feeding practices. Domesticated animals kept in the peri-urban territories often feed on waste dump feeds and polluted waters. Consequently, animal feeds could be contaminated with potentially toxic metals and diseases which may lead to death and economic losses in lost trade opportunities. Objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with livestock feeding and disease control practices in the peri-urban slums of Kisumu City, Kenya. This was achieved through identifying, characterizing and disseminating peri-urban livestock feeding practices and constraints, and their effects on food safety as well as general well-being of livestock. Primary data was collected from 291 randomly selected smallholder livestock farmers in the peri-urban slums of the City by use of semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics inform of cross tabulations, means and frequencies were used to characterize peri-urban livestock feeding and disease control practices. The results revealed that 58% of the county residents were male while 42 % were female. Their ages ranged between 18 and 90years with a mean age of 55. Majority (74%) practiced both livestock and crop production while 26% kept livestock only. The farmers mainly kept indigenous cattle (97%) as opposed to exotic (3%). The prevalent livestock farming system was free range (93%) where most farmers grazed their livestock on open unutilized spaces and dump sites. Animals were kept for consumption (62%) and for income generation (32%). The main production constraints identified by farmers were diseases (65%) and lack of feed (20%). The diseases varied with region and animal species which included tick-borne diseases (53%) and foot and mouth (15%). Farmers obtained information on management and treatment of livestock largely from private veterinarians (64%). There is need to create policies on peri-urban slum livestock keeping practices, and waste management to reduce the risks associated with livestock feeding and diseases in Kisumu city.