Some economic effects of trypanosomiasis in goats.

A study into the economic effects of trypanosomiasis was carried out using three goat breeds at the south coast of Kenya. The economic losses were worked out by comparing the performance of the goat groups receiving Samorin on a monthly basis with that of goat groups not receiving any Samorin. The losses were based on quantities of weight lost through deaths and that not produced as a result of the disease. The groups of goats were exposed to natural trypanosomal challenge. The losses in KSh per Tropical Livestock Unit within six months of the study were 198.07 for the East African goats, 501.95 for the Galla X East African goats and 785.42 for the Toggenburg X East African goats. The cost benefit ratio by using Samorin at the dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg body weight was 1:7.3, 1:18.52 and 1:28.94 for the three goat breeds respectively.