Reducing mastitis incidence and improving antibiotic stewardship in Kenyan smallholder dairy systems

National AMR Context

•  Kenya has one of the largest and fastest-growing dairy sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing 6–8% to the country’s gross domestic product. 

•  Studies indicate a high prevalence of subclinical mastitis—mild infections without visible clinical signs—exceeding 50%. 

• The high prevalence is often attributed to poor husbandry practices and a lack of diagnostic and treatment guidelines, leading to widespread non-targeted antibiotic use in resource-limited smallholder settings. 

• Recent studies show that over 90% of dairy farms use antimicrobials to treat bovine mastitis, primarily oxytetracycline, penicillin, cephalosporins, and streptomycin. 

• Approximately 40% of veterinary antimicrobials are sold without a prescription, mainly through agrovet shops, where most staff lack the qualifications to dispense veterinary drugs.

Problem

Many smallholder farmers lack the resources to properly diagnose and treat mastitis, leading to inappropriate antimicrobial use and the presence of drug residues in milk. This contributes to the development and spread of resistant bacteria, posing a significant threat to food safety and security.

Project overview

This project aims to develop and test a scalable and feasible mastitis management programme to promote prudent antimicrobial use in Kenyan dairy farms. Key activities include:

• Conducting a situational analysis of mastitis prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and antimicrobial use practices in smallholder dairy systems.
• Evaluating the direct and indirect costs of mastitis at farm, cooperative, and national levels while modelling the benefits of different prevention, control, and treatment strategies.
• Investigating the knowledge, attitudes, awareness, practices, and behaviours related to mastitis prevention among farmers and animal health providers.
• Co-creating, implementing, and evaluating a mastitis management programme at three levels: farm, animal health providers, and cooperatives.

Solutions and outcomes

The project aims to develop a draft National Mastitis Control Strategy based on evidence and inclusive of all levels of the dairy production chain.

“This is the first ICARS-supported project aimed at reducing AMR in dairy farms. Dairy production plays a vital role in combating hunger and malnutrition globally. This project seeks to ensure milk safety and quality by reducing infectious diseases, antimicrobial use, residues, and resistance. At the same time, it explores an economic model that benefits farmers and cooperatives, enabling them to produce higher-quality milk in Kenya.” 

— Claudia Cobo Angel