Cows, goats and sheep in Kenya could soon receive unique digital identities under a government programme aimed at improving livestock traceability, curbing theft and opening up new markets for farmers.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is championing the nationwide rollout of the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC), which assigns registered animals unique identities and creates digital records that can be traced from the farm to the market.
The system uses visual ear tags and electronic identification chips linked to a central digital platform, enabling authorised users to access information about an animal’s ownership, origin, movement, vaccination and health history.
Kagwe has said every Kenyan animal should eventually have an identity and traceable history, arguing that the system will strengthen livestock management, improve disease surveillance and enhance food safety.
The digital records are also expected to help tackle livestock theft and cattle rustling by making it more difficult for stolen animals to enter formal markets.
Animals whose identification, ownership or movement records do not correspond could be flagged for verification before being sold or processed.
Beyond security, the Government says ANITRAC will help Kenyan livestock farmers access lucrative international markets where buyers increasingly demand verifiable information on the origin, health status and movement history of animals and animal products.
Kagwe has urged farmers to embrace the registration exercise, saying traceability will help position Kenya as a reliable supplier of livestock and meat products to markets in Europe, the Middle East and other destinations.
The system is also expected to strengthen disease surveillance by enabling veterinary authorities to trace the movement of animals and respond more quickly when disease outbreaks occur.
According to the Government, the electronic ear tags and identification chips are being manufactured locally, a move expected to support local industries and create employment opportunities.
The rollout comes as the Government seeks to transform livestock keeping from a traditional livelihood into a more commercially oriented sector capable of generating higher incomes, supporting industrialisation and increasing Kenya’s share of international livestock markets.
The Government has said the nationwide rollout of ANITRAC will continue across the counties as it accelerates livestock registration, improves animal health systems and seeks to increase the value of Kenya’s livestock sector.