"The bovine supply chain for both milk and meat is collapsing in Sardinia: this is the situation these days on the island".
This was stated by Tore Piana, President of the Agricultural Studies Center.
To cause this situation would be several factors common to the two production lines: the Blue Tongue, which blocks the movement of cattle and the consequent sale of calves destined outside the Region; the collapse of the price of cow's milk to 36/37 cents per liter; the 50% increase in the cost of feed for cattle; the too hot autumn season, which is causing stress among cattle, with a drop in milk production by 30/35%, causing cows to lack appetite, widespread dysentery and in some cases deaths of animals, in almost all Sardinian farms.
"An alarming situation", continued Piana, "which must immediately alert the regional policy and in particular the regional agriculture and health department, to adopt urgent and extraordinary measures in favor of the sector, which until now seems has been largely neglected on the issues ".
"For this very urgent and serious situation, as president of the Agricultural Studies Center, I appeal to all Sardinian politics, and in particular to the Councilor for Agriculture Murgia, to take action within this week to urgently convene an extraordinary table of cattle supply chain from milk and meat to analyze and discuss the serious situation with all the players in the supply chain; ascertain for yourself the seriousness of the situation; ask the Regional Health Department for an extraordinary and immediate vaccination plan for all bovine animals against Blue tongue; verify what are the causes that are determining the price paid at the barn of only 36 cents / liter; insert, with an amendment of the Regional Council, within the Omnibus Decree under discussion in the Regional Council, extraordinary measures of economic aid in favor of the dairy and beef cattle sector, before the entire sector collapses irreversibly ", concluded Flat.
(Unioneonline / F)
