STUDENTS: LAURA BOURQUE & VIONNA KWAN

Dairy farming is an integral part of many people’s lives throughout central Kenya and a key part of the economy not only for the farmers involved but also for the individuals employed at the milk processing plants. Every year, for the last several years, Dr. John VanLeeuwen, a professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), has travelled to the country along with a group of students to help run a smallholder dairy health management program at Wakulima Dairy Ltd., a dairy cooperative located north of Nairobi. This program was first started by Farmers Helping Farmers and the Nairobi Veterinary College in 1997. VWB/VSF has been involved since 2006.

This summer our organization will once again supporting this incredible program which aims to bring together North American and Kenyan veterinarians and veterinary students to collaborate on clinical, extension, and research activities that benefit all participants directly involved as well as the local dairy farming community.

This year, Laura and Vionna will spend approximately three months providing veterinary care and extension to smallholder dairy farmers living in poverty in rural Kenya and will work on a research project investigating the efficacy of various anthelmintics on gastrointestinal parasites in dairy cattle.