Cyprus needs to urgently reorganise the geographic distribution of its livestock farms to reduce the risk posed by future outbreaks of infectious disease, according to Dr Stavros Malas.
Presenting a 12-year recovery and restructuring plan for the sector, costing €610.9 million, Malas warned that the heavy concentration of dairy-producing farms in specific areas leaves the country’s milk production systemically vulnerable.
“Strict decisions must be taken,” he said, arguing that the sector cannot simply return to its previous model. He noted that livestock farming in Cyprus had developed in a highly unstructured manner and had faced social stigma.
Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Christos Senekis said the government would present and discuss the scientific committee’s recommendations with those directly involved in the industry.
“Scientific documentation acquires greater value when it is accompanied by meaningful dialogue with the people who know first-hand the needs and realities of the sector,” he told an information event at the Presidential Palace.
Systemic risk to milk production
Malas highlighted the geographic concentration of 72 dairy cattle farms that produced 60% of Cyprus’ cow’s milk in 2025. One of those farms has already been lost as a result of foot-and-mouth disease.
A similar problem exists in the sheep and goat sector, where 27 farms accounted for 20% of milk production in 2025. Four of those farms have already been lost because of the disease.
The density of livestock farms means a new outbreak of a disease such as foot-and-mouth could spread rapidly, potentially placing the country’s entire milk production at risk.
Malas said decongestion, stronger biosecurity and geographic reorganisation of farms were therefore necessary.
Seven epidemiological clusters
Figures presented by Malas also illustrated the scale of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis and the structural weaknesses it exposed.
A total of 121 livestock farms were affected, resulting in the culling of 84,133 animals.
These included:
- 104 sheep and goat farms, involving 56,632 animals
- 14 cattle farms, involving 3,018 animals
- Three pig farms, involving 24,483 animals
Of the 121 affected farms, 102 were concentrated in just seven high-density livestock areas. According to Malas, these effectively operated as seven individual epidemiological clusters.
Milk production losses from the affected farms reached 16.23 million litres in 2025, equivalent to 4.06% of total milk intake.
The impact was proportionally greater in the sheep and goat sector, where 8.97% of production was lost, compared with 2.72% in cattle farming.
€30 million emergency intervention
As an immediate measure to restart the sector, the committee proposes a €30 million emergency intervention package.
The proposal includes:
- €10 million to establish 10 calf-fattening units
- €10 million to establish 10 lamb and kid-fattening units
- €10 million to relocate affected farms to safer areas, or provide a dignified exit from the profession for farmers who do not meet the criteria to remain in the sector
The committee proposes shifting away from a model based largely on the number of animals towards one focused on productivity per animal, milk and meat quality, genetic improvement, animal welfare, biosecurity, traceability and more rational geographic organisation.
It also calls for better use of meat production, which currently remains largely underdeveloped compared with milk production.
Malas said the excessive concentration of animals and farms, inadequate distances between units, shortcomings in biosecurity and traceability, and the absence of comprehensive spatial planning had created a systemically vulnerable model.
Moving away from the old model
Geographic restructuring is only one part of the scientific committee’s recommendations.
The experts argue that the sector should not return to a system characterised by overproduction of cow’s milk at the expense of meat production, low productivity, weak biosecurity, traceability gaps and fragmented solutions.
Instead, the committee proposes a model based on more productive animals, greater emphasis on meat production, stronger biosecurity, an electronic file for each livestock farm, full traceability, veterinary monitoring, genetic improvement, animal welfare and scientific support.
Referring to halloumi, the country’s second-largest export product after pharmaceuticals, Malas said protecting it requires sufficient quantities of quality milk and a sustainable, outward-looking livestock sector primarily supported by science.
€610.9 million across four pillars
The scientific team estimates that the 12-year action plan will require total expenditure of €610.925 million, divided across four pillars:
- €372.225 million for restructuring and upgrading sheep and goat farming.
- €134 million for cattle farming.
- €41 million for horizontal measures, including:
- €10 million for 10 calf-fattening units
- €10 million for lamb and kid-fattening units
- €4 million for farm fencing and electronic biosecurity systems
- €7 million for improvements to animal welfare and live monitoring
- €10 million for targeted decongestion of livestock farming areas
- €63.7 million for scientific support, including:
- €14.2 million for genetic evaluation and improvement
- €9.6 million to establish and operate an accredited milk research laboratory and conduct scientific milk technology analyses
- €9.2 million to establish and operate a meat research laboratory and conduct scientific meat analyses
- €5.65 million for a smart cattle farming team
- €5.65 million for a smart sheep and goat farming team
- €4.15 million for a sustainable livestock farming team
- €5.35 million to establish and operate a sheep and goat semen and embryo bank
- €5.5 million for an animal welfare indicator monitoring programme
- €4.4 million for electronic livestock farm records and scientific support
