Foot and mouth outbreak grows: Animal markets closed, meat and milk prices under threat

Animal diseases are causing alarm in Turkey. Animal markets have been closed across the country due to foot and mouth disease that started to spread before Eid al-Adha. CHP Niğde MP and Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission Member Ömer Fethi Gürer warned that meat and milk prices will increase due to increasing animal deaths, inadequate vaccinations and lack of inspections.

According to Evrensel newspaper, speaking at the TBMM General Assembly, Gürer said, “This process will make it even harder for both the producer and the millions of citizens who have difficulty putting meat on the table.”

“The disease started to appear due to animal movements before Eid al-Adha, which shows that there is not enough control,” said Gürer, emphasizing that the animal shortage could not be met due to the failure to prevent animal and calf deaths.

146 LARGE ANIMALS DID DUE TO FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN 2024

Referring to the data provided by the ministry, Gürer stated that 146 cattle died of foot and mouth disease and 1,500 cattle were conditionally slaughtered for various reasons in 2024. In addition, Gürer stated that 146 million doses of vaccine were administered to cattle across the country in the same year and asked, “Why can’t diseases be prevented despite all these vaccinations?”

Gürer underlined that inspections should be increased and urgent measures should be taken to prevent diseases in order to solve problems related to animal health, and emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry should develop more effective policies on this critical issue concerning animal health.

“IT WILL CAUSE INCREASES IN MEAT AND MILK PRICES”

Stating that animal diseases will also cause significant economic losses and health problems, Gürer said; “The disease will cause serious income loss for animal owners and the consumer will also be negatively affected by this process. It will cause increases in meat and milk prices on the shelf. Citizens are likely to encounter higher prices for meat and dairy products. The faster the disease is brought under control, the less the problem will be, but it will have a significant cost due to the closure of animal markets in the country and the very rapid spread. Although the problem can be partially resolved with quarantine, slaughter and vaccination, the high risk of recurrence if continuous and regular vaccination is not carried out necessitates continuous and regular vaccination.”