Cost Benefit Analysis of Vaccination for Sheep in Kuwait Farms

Abstract

Sheep mortality is a common agenda noticed in sheep farms globally. The mortality rate of newborn lambs in Kuwait ranges between 35 to 50 per cent (~43 per cent), leading to low profitability or loss to the farmer. Vaccination gives a better remedy to withstand the infections and stresses. Vaccines are available at various rates and hence the feasibility of the farmers to afford for vaccines and the subsequent profit to be earned need to be clarified for vaccinating their sheep confidently. With this objective, an investigation was conducted to cost analyze vaccinated sheep production that includes their feed, drinking water and housing values. A cost benefit analysis is an imperative activity that includes break down of total cost of each component and synthesizing to reach a value to compare with the profit gain from such activity. The total cost was calculated by vaccinating 5 groups of 30 ewes each along with the cost of feed, water and electricity for a period of 1 year to raise ewes. According to the results, a very slight difference in vaccine cost which is very nominal is recorded suggesting to vaccinate the ewes for the combined vaccine (Pasteurella + Clostridia + Pest de Petites Ruminants (PPR)) to protect for multiple diseases causing high mortality rate.