According to Radio Liberty, in the Novosibirsk Oblast and the Altai Krai of Russia, thousands of cows have been culled as part of quarantine measures introduced following outbreaks of infectious diseases among cattle.
Local authorities explain the mass culling as a necessary measure to contain the spread of diseases such as pasteurellosis and foot-and-mouth disease. At the same time, farmers say they are not being provided with documents justifying the decision to destroy the livestock.
Farmers question decisions of veterinary services
Agricultural producers refer to a 2022 order by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, according to which pasteurellosis in cattle can be treated with hyperimmune serum and antibiotics.
Representatives of regional veterinary services acknowledge that the disease is treatable. However, they note that from an economic standpoint culling livestock may be more profitable, since treatment prolongs quarantine measures and leads to greater financial losses.
Farmers also claim that in some cases the necessary blood tests are not even conducted before decisions are made to destroy animals, which is why they are demanding independent examinations.
Compensation does not cover losses
The mass destruction of livestock threatens the income of many farms.
In particular, in the Novosibirsk region owners of confiscated livestock are entitled to compensation of 170 rubles per kilogram of meat, which farmers say does not cover the real losses.
Farmers’ protests
Against this backdrop, videos of farmers protesting against the mass culling of livestock are spreading online.
The situation in Russia’s agricultural sector and the reaction of farmers were discussed in the program “Facing the Event” on the Radio Liberty channel, hosted by Artem Radygin.
