Cattle disease in Serbia's south under control – 465 animals put down, still too early to estimate the damage

Adviser to the Prime Minister Dragan Glamocic stated on Thursday, June 30, that the “lumpy skin disease” of the cattle in Serbia was under control, but that the situation was still critical and that 465 animals had been put down by then. Glamocic said to the press at the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, where the joint session of groups and competent institutions was held regarding the recent events in cattle farming, that there were 70 animals suspected to be diseased at the moment and that the disease was found in 12 municipalities in four districts.

- The disease is under control and hasn't broken out further into the Serbian territory, which is good news – said Glamocic and added that teams were vaccinating the cattle in both the infected and the endangered areas and on large farms such as PKB.

It was also said that the situation was still critical, especially until after the vaccination of the whole territory had been carried out, as the immunity development could take up to 10 to 15 days following the vaccination.

- The Serbian livestock has 950.000 animals of all categories, of which 450,000 are dairy cows. So far, 532 animals have gotten the disease, and 465 animals have been euthanized, for which the compensation will soon be paid. The disease has been localized and has stopped spreading, but we can't yet give a prognosis – says Nenad Budimovic, president of the Association of Agriculture at the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, for eKapija.

Budimovic points out that cattle disease can cause great damage to milk and beef producers, but that it's still too early to estimate what the effects will be. He also says that the most important thing is to educate the farmers on the importance of implementing all the preventive measures and to prevent the transport of animals and carry out the disinsectization and disinfection.

At the same time, while the cattle farmers in southern Serbia are fighting the infectious cattle disease, the meatpacking company Mitros from Sremska Mitrovica is waiting for the permit to export to Russia. This company, owned by the Austrian company Gerlinger, started operating two months ago and has sold 500 tons of meat since, and their products have ended up in supermarket chains throughout Serbia and Montenegro.

M.A.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Privredna komora Srbije

Mitros fleischwaren doo Sremska Mitrovica

Dragan Glamocic

lumpy skin disease

CCIS

Nenad Budimovic

Mitros Sremska Mitrovica

Gerlinger