Abstract

This article examines the relationships between livestock vaccinations, herd introduction decisions, and livestock disease-related outcomes. We develop a theoretical model and derive testable hypotheses about the relationships between these outcomes and practices and test them using two-stage least squares regression analysis. We find that vaccinations reduce disease-related livestock deaths, implying that vaccine availability and use may improve herd and household welfare. We do not find robust evidence of increase in disease-related illness due to herd introductions. Our results highlight the role of livestock vaccinations in safeguarding herd value, which is connected to broader household welfare for livestock keepers of Eastern Africa.

Keywords

household production; infectious disease; livestock vaccinations; Tanzania

Published in

Agricultural and Resource Economics Review
2022, volume: 51, number: 1, article number: PII S1068280521000113
Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Authors' information