The B.Sc. degree in Animal Health management is a unique programme, tailored to train and equip a Livestock Manager in the tropics with adequate theoretical and practical knowledge in preventive veterinary medicine, herd health and wildlife diseases.
The early part of the programme covers anatomy, physiology, environmental science, biostatistics, computer skills, microbiology and pathology. The final part of the course covers the delivery and management of animal health services. The course aims to provide new skills in epidemiology and economics with knowledge in: Arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) livestock health management; Business skills for livestock services; Management of community based Animal Health programmes
Policy analysis for the livestock sector and Biotechnology in Veterinary Medicine. Kenya‘s economy depends largely on agriculture. The rapid annual population growth of 3.1% requires a 4.0% growth in food production. The country‘s average Gross domestic product (GDP) from agriculture is 29%. The contribution from the livestock sector to the total G.D.P. however, is only 5%. This puts a high demand on livestock production, which has resulted to major changes in animal production systems, tending towards intensification. These changes are posing new challenges in animal disease management requiring a good knowledge in epidemiology and new approaches in disease control. In the last three decades the effectiveness of animal health delivery services has seriously declined in developing countries, especially in Africa. This is because governments cannot afford to meet the changing demands in disease control and the increasing costs of these programs. The general trend in Animal Health delivery services in Kenya is towards privatization. Most these services are now being offered by Non governmental Organizations (NGO) or by the private sector. Hence the need to train managers who are equipped to meet these challenges.