Severe milk shortages are being reported even among large Greek dairy producers due to the outbreak of sheep pox, which has led to the culling of approximately 328,000 animals within a single year. During August and September alone, 580 new infection sites were identified — 233 in the region of Thessaly, 134 in Central Macedonia, and 95 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
This is a critical period for the industry, as the milking season — which usually runs from December to March — is about to begin, and the size of the surviving livestock will determine the country’s production capacity in the coming months.
The milking season marks the period during which animals produce milk — in Greece, this typically lasts from December to March.
In Thrace, shortages have already reached 40%, while in Thessaly, the supply of conventional sheep’s milk has dropped from 6,211 tons to 5,901. Producers warn that the situation is deteriorating.
There is cautious optimism, however, that with the arrival of colder weather in the winter months, the spread of the disease will slow down.
In a statement, the Hellenic Association of Dairy Industry (SEVGAP) said current measures are insufficient and called on the government to provide “realistic” compensation. “Livestock farmers who fail to comply with the rules are not necessarily acting out of lawlessness or disregard,” the association stated. “These dangerous violations often stem from desperation — from their struggle to survive.”
Sources: News 247, Ναυτεμπορική, ERT
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