Newsroom / CNA
Approximately 2,000 animals across five livestock farms in Cyprus will be culled following infections identified during island-wide sample testing conducted in July, government officials confirmed on Monday.
The announcement came from Andreas Grigoriou, Director-General of Agriculture and Rural Development, following a high-level meeting at the ministry involving affected livestock farmers, Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis, and technical staff.
Compensation and legal delays
State compensation for financial losses will proceed once culling operations conclude. Farmers are also scheduled to receive payouts in the coming days for destroyed milk supplies up to September 23.
A dedicated meeting is scheduled for October 14 at the Deputy Attorney General's office to resolve outstanding compensation cases involving four specific farmers. Attendees will include the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Grigoriou, and Mr. Pipis.
"All payments involving public funds must take place within the legal framework, which is why there is communication with the Law Office," Grigoriou stated. "Our objective is for them to be paid as quickly as possible within the law."
On October 19, officials plan to present agricultural unions and farmer representatives with formal compensation models for lost income, alongside financial packages intended to help rebuild herds.
Disease eradication status and biosafety
Agricultural authorities clarified that the forthcoming culling stems from older infections flagged earlier in the year rather than a fresh outbreak.
"There is no flare-up," Grigoriou explained. "We are talking about older cases that emerged months ago. However, the competent authority, after investigating these specific parameters alongside the European Commission, decided that these animals must be culled. Unfortunately, culling is a necessary evil when cases are confirmed."
Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis emphasized that while mandatory protocols leave little choice, official disease-free status remains distant. "The objective of the department is not to cull animals. The objective of the department is to treat animals and ensure their survival, so culling animals is not something that gives us pleasure or satisfaction. We do not want to cull either, but we are obligated by the responsibilities entrusted to us by law to implement something that is unpleasant for us to execute."
Pipis noted that regaining officially recognized disease-free status for the island "is not going to happen anytime soon," though systematic sampling continues under EU mandates.
Traditional breeds under review
State officials agreed to joint headcounts and animal profiling alongside a three-member technical committee before executing the culling process.
Special considerations surround two farms harboring indigenous local breeds, specifically fat-tailed sheep and red cattle. While regulations permit potential deviations for traditional livestock, decisions remain subject to review. Relocation plans are being requested for the fat-tailed sheep operation, while an appeal regarding the red cattle facility is currently under evaluation. A farm facility located in Aradippou is also undergoing review.
The measures face pushback from agricultural union leadership. Neofytos Neofytou, President of the Voice of Farmers group, voiced strong opposition to animal destruction. "As 'Voice of Farmers', we are not in favor of any culler, not only of sheep and goats, nor of cows, pigs, or even the kitten about which so much fuss was made in previous days, because we are talking about animals that sustain families," said Neofytou. Neofytou added, "We repeat once more: We are waiting, we want cooperation, we do not endorse culls, and we want farm units to start up again, to move forward, for people to get paid, for lost income to arrive, and to see a livestock sector that will once again bring joy to goat and sheep breeders, who have been deprived of prosperity and happiness for the last 11 months."
Farmer Pavlos Lazarou, representing the five impacted site owners, confirmed he had requested a formal review of his farm's case, which authorities accepted. "We will wait to see what happens," Lazarou stated.
