The Council of Ministers, at its most recent meeting, approved the granting of financial support to the sheep and goat farming sector.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, the financial aid — with a total budget of €1.5 million — aims to encourage the adoption of modern reproductive management practices, such as hormonal oestrus synchronisation. The objective is to improve animal productivity, reduce the seasonality of milk production, and enhance the sustainability of livestock holdings.
Eligible beneficiaries include qualifying livestock farms with at least 200 female animals aged ten months and over (ewes and does). The minimum number of eligible animals per application is set at 50 animals for each individual holding. Eligible holdings must also possess a Certificate of Registration of a Food Establishment of Animal Origin, and their milk movements must be recorded on the Department of Agriculture’s electronic Fresh Milk Movement platform.
The decision is intended to support producers who contribute to the production of Halloumi with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status and to improve the sector’s competitiveness. It also forms part of a broader policy framework to support primary production, strengthen livestock farming, and ensure the sustainable development of a sector closely linked to the rural economy and the protection of national products.