Smallholder cattle welfare in low-income countries is often poor due to disease burden, inadequate nutrition, and limited veterinary access, with targeted programs showing strong welfare and livelihood outcomes.
Smallholder cattle suffer from conditions entirely preventable with basic veterinary access. Animals with foot and mouth disease unable to walk cannot graze, causing progressive starvation. East Coast fever kills young cattle rapidly with high fever and respiratory distress. The welfare intervention that achieves the greatest impact is systematic community-level vaccination combined with training community animal health workers to recognize and treat common conditions. Each healthy, productive animal represents better welfare and better nutrition security for farming families.