Yeri, Cyprus. Livestock farmers gathered on Wednesday outside a livestock unit in Yeri to protest the planned collection of animal samples by the Veterinary Services as tensions rise over containment measures for the spreading foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Protest over planned sampling
Farmers assembled outside the unit in Yeri after the owner was informed that Veterinary Services personnel would arrive on Wednesday morning to collect samples.
Supporters of the protest said the sampling procedure is premature and inconsistent with official protocols following vaccination.
Document circulated urging refusal
The protest followed the circulation of a document among livestock farmers calling on farm owners to refuse veterinary sampling, a move that has sparked divisions within the agricultural community while authorities warn that cooperation is essential to contain the virus.
According to news website Reporter, the document circulated through social media groups used by livestock farmers is titled “official objection and notification of invalidity of sampling”.
It urges farm owners to sign a declaration refusing access to Veterinary Services officials seeking to collect samples from animals for laboratory testing under disease monitoring protocols.
Outbreak spreads into Nicosia district
Cyprus remains on high alert after the virus spread from Larnaca into the Nicosia district, including farms in Dhali and Yeri.
Criticism from livestock farmer
Livestock farmer Theodoros Groutas criticised the document publicly, expressing alarm that some producers are being encouraged to obstruct veterinary checks during a major disease outbreak.
Speaking on state broadcaster CyBC, he questioned who had drafted the document and warned that its claims could undermine efforts to control the virus.
“I have a document in front of me which I do not know who drew up. It is titled ‘official objection and notification of invalidity of sampling’,” he said.
Do you think livestock farmers should allow veterinary sampling during the outbreak?