The Greek livestock industry is currently suffering a severe blow: an outbreak caused by the highly contagious Sheeppox has spread across the country, leading to the culling of hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats, the closure of multiple ranches, and a crisis in the supply of cheese and meat. According to the latest news, the government has announced the implementation of emergency measures and warned that if control is not effective, the transportation of sheep and goats may be banned nationwide.
The spread of the epidemic has caused huge losses
According to data from the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, over 260,000 sheep and goats have been culled in the past 12 months, accounting for approximately 2% of the country’s sheep and goat population. Meanwhile, about 1,100 ranches have been forced to close due to the epidemic. The area hardest hit by the epidemic is the agricultural hub Thessaly, where about 40,000 animals have been culled and over 80 breeding units have been shut down since July.
In addition, in the northern region of Kozani, after confirming the infection cases, 200 animals were culled in just one ranch, and a 5-kilometer radius restricted area was immediately set up to suspend the movement of animals.
Giorgos Tasioulis, a herdsman, stood in front of the empty sheep pen, choking up: “Our unit…” Now everything starts from scratch. Our family starts all over again.” Since 2020, he has invested nearly 2 million euros to upgrade his farm, but now it has come to a standstill due to the pandemic.
The cheese industry and exports have been affected
The traditional cheese, Feta cheese, which is abundant in Greece, relies heavily on sheep and goat milk sources. The Thessaly region accounts for approximately 15% of the national production of goat and goat meat and nearly one-third of the milk sources. The outbreak of sheep pox has led to a shortage of milk sources and restricted transportation. Cheese processors say that the reduction in raw materials will push up production costs, and cheese prices are expected to rise by more than 20%.
In terms of exports, if normal production cannot be resumed within the prescribed period, Greece may be regarded as an “epidemic area” by the European Union, which will affect the export of cheese and meat to markets such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Emergency measures & Government warnings
The Greek government has launched a 10-day emergency action plan, dispatching veterinary teams to the epidemic areas, setting up disinfection stations, strengthening biosecurity checks, and reminding ranchers that they will face criminal responsibility if they conceal their diseases. Deputy Agriculture Minister Christos Kellas warned: “If no decisive action is taken, animal transportation across the country will be completely frozen.”
At present, the government has not fully launched the vaccine immunization program. The reasons include that the EU has not yet unified vaccination guidelines and concerns that vaccination may affect export qualifications. Analysts believe that this delay may become a major hidden danger in curbing the spread of the epidemic.
The current situation and subsequent risks of the ranch
For many ranches, this epidemic is adding insult to injury – they have just recovered from the floods of 2023 and have been hit again this year. “When we thought we had slightly recovered, the sheep pox came back, and it completely ended us.” ” A rancher, Vagelis Karajiolis, said so.
If the epidemic is not brought under control, not only will the production of meat and milk continue to decline, but the national sheep and goat breeding structure may also be forced to be reorganized. Meanwhile, for Greek consumers who are plagued by cost crises and inflation, the prices of meat and cheese will rise further, threatening social stability.
Summary
The livestock crisis in Greece caused by sheep pox is no longer merely an animal health issue, but has spread to multiple challenges, including agricultural supply chains, regional economies, and export markets. How the government, herders, and processing enterprises can collaborate and whether biosecurity and production order can be restored quickly will be the key to winning the battle against the epidemic and economic recovery in the coming months.
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