Organised livestock breeders are expected on Sunday to ask President Nikos Christodoulides to stop the culling of healthy animals that are not infected with foot-and-mouth disease and to proceed with the universal vaccination of all livestock.
They are also expected to raise the need for the European Union to examine how funds allocated for the management of animal diseases in the occupied areas are being used.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:30am at the Presidential Palace, will be attended by associations representing cattle farmers, sheep and goat breeders and pig farmers, as well as the cheesemakers’ association, the Cyprus Veterinary Association, the Veterinary Services of Cyprus and agricultural organisations.
On Saturday, agricultural organisations held a meeting in Aradippou with livestock breeders, who warned that they may proceed with mobilisations. Panagrotikos secretary-general Tasos Yiapanis said they had accepted the President’s invitation to attend the meeting at the Presidential Palace regarding the issue of foot-and-mouth disease.
He added that their main demand is for what they describe as the killing of animals within the livestock population to stop. During the meeting, they will request the immediate termination of the policy of mass culling.
Meanwhile, complications emerged on Saturday during the process of animal cullings. According to a reliable source speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, livestock breeders obstructed the work of the Veterinary Services. The situation that developed has made it necessary to redesign the teams operating in the field.
Source: CNA