By Umar Nsubuga
Phoebe Kagambe, a successful dairy farmer in Rwentale-Kamata village, Kyenjojo district, has championed the closed grazing system as a method to not only increase milk production but also drastically reduce livestock diseases.
With years of managing her dairy farm, she has witnessed firsthand the benefits of this system, especially in disease prevention.
According to Kagambe, one of the primary advantages of closed grazing is the ability to control the environment in which the animals live and graze.
“When cattle roam freely in open pastures, they are exposed to a range of diseases, including ticks and worms, which thrive in unmanaged areas,” she explains.
She adds that closed grazing keeps the animals in a well-managed, fenced area, reducing their exposure to disease-causing agents like parasites.
Improved sanitation and hygiene
Kagambe points out that closed grazing allows for better hygiene management.
“You can easily monitor and clean the areas where your cattle graze, ensuring that they are not feeding in areas contaminated with pathogens,” she says.
Regular cleaning of feeding and watering areas reduces the risk of diseases like mastitis and foot rot, which are common in unsanitary conditions, she says.
Effective disease monitoring and control
Closed grazing also makes it easier to detect and manage diseases early.
Kagambe highlights that with confined herds, farmers can closely monitor the health of individual animals and spot symptoms quickly.
“When animals are always under your watch, you can isolate those showing signs of illness and treat them before it spreads to the rest of the herd,” she advises.
This system is especially useful in controlling contagious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
Tick control
Ticks are a major source of diseases such as East Coast fever in Uganda.
Kagambe explains that controlling ticks becomes much more manageable with closed grazing.
“In an enclosed system, you can apply acaricides more efficiently and ensure that ticks do not infest your animals,” she says.
This greatly reduces the risk of tick-borne illnesses.
Better nutrition and immunity
Kagambe also notes that closed grazing ensures that animals have access to a balanced diet, which helps boost their immunity.
“You can control what your livestock eat, ensuring they get the nutrients they need to stay healthy,” she explains.
Healthier animals with strong immune systems are less susceptible to diseases, creating a more resilient herd.
Preventing interactions with wild animals
Another benefit of closed grazing, according to Kagambe, is preventing livestock from interacting with wild animals, which can be carriers of diseases.
“When animals are free-ranging, they often come into contact with wild animals, increasing the risk of disease transmission,” she says.
By keeping livestock within a controlled area, the risk of cross-species infection is significantly reduced.
