Dialogos

Despair and Outrage Among Farmers Over Animal Culls Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Published March 9, 2026, 09:03
Despair and Outrage Among Farmers Over Animal Culls Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Farmers affected by foot-and-mouth disease describe the situation as desperate. Farmer Christos Karagiannis questions the need for culls, as milk and meat remain safe for consumption. Farmers, such as Lazaros and Lucas Mappouras, denounce the lightness of the culling process and express concern about the potential spread of the disease and the total culling of animals. Farmers are calling for a change in protocols and the implementation of continuous vaccination, emphasizing that the announced compensation is insufficient. They believe that the situation threatens livestock farming and the production of traditional products, such as halloumi. Farmers characterize those responsible for the culls as modern Herods, expressing their despair over the situation.