Nicosia, Cyprus. Decisions on whether to preserve or cull fat-tailed sheep and red cattle affected by foot and mouth disease (FMD) will be taken by the end of the week, Veterinary Services spokesperson Sotiria Georgiadou said on Tuesday.
Criteria for decisions
Georgiadou said decisions would be reached in cooperation with the agriculture ministry based on legislation, scientific documentation, the animals’ genetic purity, and their numbers compared with the breed’s total population.
She said authorities would weigh the risks and potential benefits of any decision to preserve or cull the animals, adding that containing the spread of the disease is the primary priority.
Containment measures and infection figures
Georgiadou said culling, vaccination and restrictive measures are all part of efforts to contain the disease.
Around 350 adult animals are currently infected, including about 33 red cattle and 320 fat-tailed sheep, she said. She added that the number of infected units has reached 105.
Rare breeds and locations
The breeds are indigenous and exist in relatively small numbers on the island, with red cattle mainly found in the Paphos district and fat-tailed sheep in various areas.
Scenarios under consideration
Georgiadou said multiple scenarios are being considered, including culling only animals that test positive or culling all animals. She said total culling cannot be ruled out.
Breeders’ concerns
Breeder Constantinos Mouskou told the Cyprus Mail he fears his flock of 600 fat-tailed sheep could be destroyed by the Veterinary Services. He said his family has bred the same flock for six generations, and that during the 1974 war the flock was trapped in Lysi and his father saved it, after which he kept it as it was brought back.
Andreas Christodoulou, a representative of the breeders’ association for native cattle and a breeder of red cattle, told the Cyprus Mail that he considers the breed different from all others, and described the issue as deeply personal, saying he grew up alongside the cattle.
What do you think should be prioritised in deciding whether to cull or preserve these rare breeds?
