site.btaPasture Shortage and Sheep Pox Are Main Challenges for Livestock Farmers, says Association at Annual Meeting

Since the beginning of the year, 191 outbreaks of sheep pox in small ruminants have been confirmed in eight regions of Bulgaria, with Plovdiv region being the most affected, accounting for 143 outbreaks. Of these, 17 outbreaks remain active due to farmers’ refusal to cull infected animals, said Daniel Denev, Head of the Animal Health Department at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), during the Annual Forum of the National Sheep and Goat Breeders Association. The event is being held in Hisarya under the motto “You Are Not Alone! Sheep Farming in Times of Crisis”, marking the 15th anniversary of the Association.

Due to these 17 unresolved cases, there is a risk that the ban on the movement and trade of sheep and goats in the region of Plovdiv may not be lifted on February 4 2026, as scheduled. Tsveta Karayancheva, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forestry, has committed to hold a meeting at the end of January next year to find a solution to the problem.

Denev noted that the deadlines and steps farmers must take to restore their facilities in zones where bans have been lifted will be published on the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency website. He added that this depends on the dynamics of the outbreaks and whether new cases occur.

Another problem highlighted by forum participants is the insufficient area and high rental prices of municipal pastures. Participants noted that upcoming changes to the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act will set pasture rents at market rates, returning them to 2024 levels.

Outgoing Deputy Agriculture Minister Lozana Vasileva said that in recent years, sheep and goat farming has developed under a challenging business environment, with the outbreaks of sheep pox currently being the most pressing issue. In 2025, targeted de minimis aid of BGN 2.2 million was provided as compensation for restrictions. In addition, due to drought and limited resources, an extra budget of BGN 36 million was allocated. The transitional national aid for ewes and mother goats for the 2025 campaign, totaling BGN 19.4 million, has been paid. On Friday, funds under coupled support - 10 interventions amounting to EUR 122 million were also transferred, reaching nearly 11,500 farmers. In 2026, the indicative annual programme will include 11 calls for applications totaling EUR 440 million, Vasileva added.

Simeon Karakolev, co-chair of the National Sheep and Goat Breeders Association, noted that the association has nearly 400 members. He emphasized that thanks to the association, numerous legislative changes and sector reforms have been implemented.