An outbreak of sheep pox is spreading across Greece, with new cases reported in Karditsa, raising the total to 605 affected farms and over 140,000 animals culled since August, the Ministry of Rural Development says.
Farmers say government compensation – ranging from €4 to €14 per adult female sheep – fails to cover losses, especially in regions facing prolonged quarantines and feed costs of €1.50 per animal daily.
Restrictions now bar animal movement and slaughter even in uninfected farms within red zones, worsening the economic fallout. In Thessaly, mass cullings continue, while in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, over 90,000 animals have been slaughtered. A new national task force aims to address the escalating crisis.
“The animals will grow and won’t be marketable once over 15 kilos,” warned Kavala farmers’ president, Nikos Dimopoulos, citing delays in aid payments.
Source - https://www.ekathimerini.com
