Fiscal and trade policies in most parts of Africa are often viewed as the domain of economists, yet they dictate the clinical reality of every livestock and veterinarians in the region. According to Bio Goura Soulé, the influx of cheap, subsidized imported milk powder (often taxed at a meager 5%) creates an uneven playing field that systematically devalues local production. When local dairy farmers are undercut by these low-cost imports, their profit margins vanish, and the first “luxury” to be cut is often professional veterinary care. Fiscal policy thus acts as an indirect regulator of animal welfare; when trade barriers are too low, the incentive for farmers to invest in high-quality feed, vaccinations, and disease prevention collapses, leaving herds vulnerable and the local dairy industry in a state of arrested development.
Veterinarians must therefore be recognized as essential stakeholders in trade debates rather than just animal doctors. A weakened dairy sector does not only hurt the farmer’s pocket; it degrades the entire sanitary infrastructure of a nation. When a farmer cannot afford a consultation due to market volatility caused by poor customs enforcement, the veterinarian loses a client, and the country loses a frontline defender against zoonotic diseases. The future of local milk production depends on shifting customs duties and investment codes to favor domestic collectors and processors. Without a fiscal environment that makes local milk competitive, the technical expertise of the veterinarian remains underutilized, as there is demand for advanced health management in a struggling economy.
To bridge this gap, veterinary professionals must transition into policy advocates, linking animal health directly to national food security and economic resilience. Instead of remaining confined to the farm or clinic, veterinary associations should lobby for tariff reforms that protect local value chains, ensuring that “Made in Africa” milk is shielded from unfair global competition. Advocacy should focus on redirecting fiscal gains into livestock infrastructure and subsidized health programs. By championing policies that strengthen the economic viability of dairy farming, veterinarians aren’t just protecting their livelihoods; they are securing the nutritional future of the continent and ensuring that animal health remains a priority, not an afterthought.
