Greece culls sheep, goats amid feta cheese concerns
In the Thessaly region, a veterinarian surveyed her farm after 650 of her sheep were culled due to a detected case of sheep and goat pox. She explained that the disease likely originated from a neighboring farm that did not report its cases, noting, "There is another farm two kilometres away. They had pox cases, but hid it." The destruction of her herd has not only created an economic burden but also taken a personal toll. "I was here the day the sheep were culled. It is very cruel, I felt that I failed to protect them," she said, highlighting the emotional impact of the outbreak.
The virus first appeared in northern Greece in August 2024 and has since spread to multiple regions. Reports indicate that by mid-November, authorities had confirmed 1,702 incidents of the disease. In response, entire herds on affected farms are being culled as a preventive measure, resulting in approximately 417,000 sheep and goats being destroyed—representing roughly 4–5% of the national population.
This situation directly threatens feta cheese production, as about 80% of Greek sheep and goat milk is used for this product, which holds a protected designation of origin within the European Union. While similar cheeses can be made elsewhere, only cheese produced in Greece under specific conditions may be labeled feta. Last year, Greece exported €785m worth of feta, most of it to EU countries, with significant shipments also going to the UK. Experts warn that shortages and increased production costs may be unavoidable if the outbreak continues. "The limited amount of available milk increases production costs and makes it more difficult to maintain current quantities [of feta] on the market," as stated by veterinary professionals.
The devastation has left many farmers grappling with grief. Near Karditsa, a farmer whose herd of 873 animals was culled described the emptiness of his farm, saying, "The shop is closed." He walked through silent barns and unused milking stations, recalling, "I used to come in in the morning, hear the animals bleating, stroke them. The day they were culled, I was here. If you cut me that day, I wouldn't bleed."
As the outbreak continues, authorities and farmers alike are facing the dual challenge of containing the disease while trying to safeguard Greece's cultural and economic staple—feta cheese.
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