Breeders demand compensation after sheeppox kills an estimated 7,000–10,000 sheep

Sheep and goat breeders will meet this afternoon in Shtip to decide what steps to take and which demands to present to the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy over a wave of sheeppox that, according to on‑the‑ground estimates, has killed between 7,000 and 10,000 sheep.

Union calls for immediate compensation

The president of the Union of Sheep and Goat Breeders, Naser Džemaili, told reporters that one of the union’s central demands will be prompt compensation for owners whose flocks perished in the outbreak.

“We already know the number is between seven and ten thousand sheep, but it is not complete. We certainly have more flocks lost; we see that breeders are already afraid to report cases, because it takes a long time to cull the flock and they do not know, they are not sure, whether those flocks will be compensated. None of the breeders wants to lose the sheep and be left on the street. So today we will decide on the demands, to have the lost sheep compensated as soon as possible,” said the President of the Union of Sheep and Goat Breeders, Naser Džemaili.

Union representatives say the death toll is preliminary and that many farmers may be reluctant to notify authorities because of long delays in culling procedures and uncertainty about compensation. They warned this underreporting could mean the real scale of losses is even larger.

Breeders also announced they will escalate their protest if authorities ignore their demands: they plan to bring their animals in front of the Government building. The movement has received backing from the Confederation of Trade Union Organizations.

“Prime Minister, as urgently as possible, take the matter into your own hands, because the flocks are waiting, we'll gather them from the pens and bring them to the Government. The situation is very alarming, so that what little remains here can be kept, preserved, and people can continue to engage in what their grandfathers and great‑grandfathers have done for centuries — this is essentially the recommendation of the Confederation,” said Goce Delchev Todev of the Confederation of Trade Union Organizations.

At today’s meeting in Shtip the breeders will finalise a list of demands that, in addition to compensation, are expected to include faster veterinary intervention, clearer and quicker culling and disposal procedures, and guarantees for quicker payouts. They are calling on the Ministry and the Government to respond immediately to prevent further losses and to preserve livelihoods in affected rural communities.

Photo: press material from the event