Malas urges productivity and biosecurity reforms in Cyprus livestock sector
A scientific committee report proposes restructuring livestock farming after foot-and-mouth disease, with measures on productivity, biosecurity and farm congestion.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Increasing sheep and goat productivity and creating dedicated animal fattening units away from existing farms should be priorities in rebuilding Cyprus’ livestock sector, according to Stavros Malas, head of the Special Scientific Committee for the Reconstruction of Livestock Farming.
Malas submitted the committee’s report to President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday and said the government was satisfied with most of its findings.
Measures for affected farms
The report examines how farms affected by foot-and-mouth disease can resume operations while reducing the risk of a future outbreak.
Malas said 84 of the 121 affected farms were located in livestock farming zones where units had been established close to one another, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
“The livestock farming areas made the problem much worse,” he said.
The committee proposed measures for farmers who decide to restart operations, focusing particularly on reducing congestion in livestock farming areas. Malas said not all affected farmers were expected to resume their businesses and that restructuring would be needed where appropriate.
Wider sector reorganisation
The second part of the report includes broader proposals for reorganising the sector, including a more balanced development of milk and meat production.
On dairy farming, Malas said milk production supports the halloumi industry but said future challenges went beyond the cheese’s protected designation of origin status.
He said European traders were expected to introduce requirements related to biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental standards.
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