Cattle Dip and Livestock Management

Training Community Animal Health Workers

TPP established a Community Animal Health Committee and trained members in 2011. The next year TPP supported four members – two men and two women – to attend a six week course at the Livestock Training Institute in Arusha to become certified Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW). CAHWs provide para-veterinary services to the community. The CAHWs began conducting routine animal health services in 2013. They treated the community's cattle, sheep, and goats for gastrointestinal worms, tick-borne disease, and Typanosomosis.

Building a Cattle Dip

Naitolia community members, Monduli District, and TPP worked together to fund and build a cattle dip in 2013. The dip plays an important role in reducing disease and death among household livestock in the Naitolia area. It is operated by the CAHWs and the Community Animal Health Committee. Naitolia's village government wrote bylaws to regulate the cattle dip, which were approved by Monduli District and ratified by the community. In the first year, they dipped more than 27,000 cattle, goats, and sheep, making a net income of 400 USD to invest in dip maintenance, repairs, and supplies.

Upgrading Cattle Dip Facility

A cattle dip office and store room for hazardous chemicals was built in 2016. In addition, a rainwater harvesting system with a 20,000-liter water tank was installed on the new office building. The tank can be filled with rain or well water. The continuous water supply lowers operation costs. The corral was also improved with small gauge fencing to control and protect the smaller animals such as goats and sheet.

A 50-meter crush (chute) was constructed in 2017 to be used for vaccinations, breeding, blood draws, and assessment of animal health. It is covered with a shade for treating animals during the rainy season. Community members provided labor and local supplies. A 28-meter water trough for smaller animals was constructed near the cattle dip. Community members dug new trenches and moved water pipes to connect the trough to the main water tank.

Educating Community Members

In 2017, the CAHWs received training on dip management, the appropriate use of acaricides and recording dipping activities. The community was taught about the importance of dipping all cattle to eliminate ticks and reduce tick borne diseases.
CAWH members received further training in 2019 on how to maintain new infrastructure. TPP also supported five new Community Animal Health Committee members to attend a four-week training at the government-operated Tengeru Livestock Training Agency in Arusha. The training covered cattle dip operations, poultry nutrition, vaccination of cattle, goats, and poultry, and animal disease recognition.

Sustaining a Model Cattle Dip

In 2019, Monduli District formally recognized the dip as a model dip on the basis of its construction and management. During a district-wide campaign on livestock health and welfare, district officers used the Naitolia dips to demonstrate proper dipping techniques to people from neighboring villages. The successful operation of the dip by the CAHWs qualified Naitolia to receive some dipping supplies from the district at no cost.

The cattle dip is now used twice monthly by villagers and members of neighboring communities and continues to produce enough income to be self-sustaining. TPP continues to provide follow-up support on infrastructure maintenance and management.