MALAS - SPREAD OF FOOT AND MOUTH DUE TO BAD PRACTICES THE OLD MODEL OF LIVESTOCK FARMING CANNOT CONTINUE - Filenews 20/4
The old model of livestock farming cannot continue, said the head of the Special Scientific Committee for the reconstruction and upgrading of the livestock sector, Stavros Malas, who attended a meeting of the epidemiological group for foot-and-mouth disease on Monday.
Regarding the next steps and the possibility of tightening the measures, the epidemiological team is working on various scenarios and suggestions, as informed by KYPE.
In relation to the spread of the virus in Western Nicosia, Mr. Malas stated that the reason is unclear, but noted that "the indications are that it was done by bad practices regarding the movement of animals".
"When you move lambs and goats and you don't do proper disinfection and you go and load piglets, leaving behind a small outbreak leaves the problem. And piglets are more vulnerable," he explained.
Regarding the tests in the units, Stavros Malas said that about 490 units have been analyzed, of which 101 have tested positive.
"It is close to 20-22%, it is the percentage we expected approximately," he noted.
"The way the livestock areas were organized has created conditions so that the problem (of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease) is worse than it should be," said Mr. Malas.
In relation to livestock, Mr. Malas clarified that the Special Scientific Committee does not discuss replenishment of livestock from abroad.
"The Commission only discusses from the domestic market. We believe that the best way is to build livestock farming on the basis of local breeds, which are also more resilient," he explained.
"If the virus is contained, there is too much livestock in our country to replenish it," concluded Mr. Malas.
