Healthy livestock do not happen by chance. Vaccination protects cattle, sheep, and goats from serious diseases that can cause deaths, losses, and devastating setbacks. Prevention pays.

In Nigeria, PPR vaccination is particularly important for sheep and goats, yet some farmers remain unaware. Ignorance should never expose valuable animals to preventable diseases. Knowledge saves.

Cattle may require protection against blackleg, anthrax, haemorrhagic septicaemia, lumpy skin disease, CBPP, brucellosis, and FMD, depending on local veterinary recommendations. Prevention strengthens productivity.

For goats, important vaccines may include PPR, enterotoxemia, tetanus, CCPP, FMD, and anthrax, while sheep may require PPR, enterotoxemia, tetanus, sheep pox, bluetongue, anthrax, and FMD.

Not every vaccine will always be available, and vaccination programmes should consider disease prevalence, location, age, production system, and veterinary advice. Plan before disease strikes.

Farmers must take vaccination seriously because some livestock diseases can spread rapidly and cause devastating economic losses. Consult veterinary professionals and protect your animals responsibly. Prevention preserves livelihoods.

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view