Russia faces mass cattle culling amid sanitary concerns

A sanitary crisis in Russia’s cattle herd began with reports of pasteurellosis in Siberia, but the scale of the official response has raised doubts about the true disease involved. Veterinary authorities have implemented quarantines, movement restrictions, and mass culling across several regions.

The process, which began in early March, could affect hundreds of thousands of animals, mainly beef and dairy cattle. USDA reports suggest that the scale of the measures would be more consistent with a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, although this has not been officially confirmed.

The situation has generated tension among producers, with complaints of confiscation of even healthy animals and protests over the economic impact. Compensation offered by the government, around US$ 2.09/kg, is considered insufficient by many farmers.

The episode is already having trade implications, with import restrictions from neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, and raises questions about Russia’s sanitary status and the effectiveness of its control programs.

Source: Beef Magazine