Veterinary scientists at the University of California, Davis are involved in an effort to increase milk production and milk safety in the African nation of Rwanda. In Rwanda, cows produce on average 5 liters of milk per day. A healthy and efficient milk production system should result in between 25 to 40 liters of milk per day.
As part of the University of California, Davis Global Health Initiative, veterinary scientists are teaching their counterparts at universities in Rwanda how to increase production and to ensure the safety of the milk supply. They are also participating in an effort to educate small farmers in Rwanda what they can do to increase yield and safety.
Much of the effort involves education for veterinarians in Rwanda on the prevention and treatment of mastitis, an infection of the cow’s udder.
