Diploma in Animal Health and Range Management
Diploma holders in Animal Health and Range Management are important in the animal resource industry as they form a link between the front line personnel and managers in the provision of animal health and range management services. In Kenya, the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) occupy more than 80 percent of the country, hold over 60% of livestock and are home to over 10 million people. About 90% of the ASAL population directly depends on livestock. Despite their high development potential, the ASALs have the lowest development indicators and highest poverty incidence in Kenya.
The ASALs have serious challenges with regard to animal resources. Reinforcing these challenges is a cycle involving environmental degradation, insecurity, climate shocks, diseases and general despondency. Other constraints include feed shortage, marketing of animals and animal products, lack of credit, threats to biodiversity and invasion by foreign species. The need to build capacities for livestock production, management and disease control in range lands, through training is necessary since well-understood and well-rehearsed procedures, executed by competent, adequately equipped staff constitute some of the best responses to production and management constraints in the ASALs.
The Diploma in Animal Health and Range Management is designed to equip candidates with the necessary skills that will allow them to address livestock health and management problems from a multi-disciplinary point of view with emphasis on the ASALs. The Programme will draw candidates from practicing animal health technicians and form four graduates.
Diploma in Animal Health and Range Management
Goal
To equip trainees with knowledge and skills to address needs in animal health and range management.
Objectives
- To develop human resources with technical knowledge in animal health and range management.
- To develop capacity for food security and safety, animal welfare, disease control and sustainable utilization of ASALs for improved livelihood and economic gain.
Diploma in Animal Health and Range Management
Duration of the Programme
The programme will take two years including 280 hours of field attachment.
Admission requirements
- Holders of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with an aggregate of at least C and a grade of at least C in Biology or Biological sciences, C- in Chemistry or Physical sciences and at least C- in Mathematics or Agriculture.
- Holders of Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) / East Africa Certificate of Education (EACE) Division II with at least a credit pass Biology or Biological Sciences, Chemistry or Physical Sciences and Mathematics or Agriculture.
- Holders of an “A” level certificate with a minimum of one principal pass in Biology and at least a subsidiary pass in Chemistry.
- Holders of a minimum credit certificate in Animal Health and Range Management/ Range Management/ Animal Health and Production/ Agriculture/ Wildlife Health/ Dairy Technology or equivalent with at least an aggregate of C- at KCSE or division III or its equivalent at KCE from institutions recognized by the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB).
- Holders of a diploma in a biomedical discipline recognized by the KVB.
- Any other qualification equivalent to the above from an institution recognized by KVB.