Scientists warn native Cyprus cattle breed at risk from foot-and-mouth disease

“These animals should be vaccinated immediately and as a priority before the rest, because we cannot obtain these animals from elsewhere. We cannot import them or even import semen.”

Two academics from Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) have urged authorities to take special measures to protect Cyprus’ indigenous cattle breed amid concerns over the possible spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

In a letter sent to the relevant authorities, associate professors Ouranios Tzamaloukas and Despoina Miltiadou called on the agriculture ministry to give priority protection to the native cattle breed.

The two scientists outlined a series of proposals while warning about the risks posed by the disease and the potential impact on the island’s small population of native cattle.

Among their recommendations, they call for vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease for all animals of the breed across Cyprus, with priority given to these cattle rather than limiting vaccination to farms located near outbreak areas.

They also stressed the need for additional support measures due to the extensive grazing-based nature of these farms.

Since February 26, grazing has been banned as part of disease control measures, leaving many breeders without their primary feeding system.

The academics propose that farmers be provided with animal feed or emergency financial support to allow them to keep the animals on farms and continue breeding and production.

Speaking to newspaper Haravgi, Tzamaloukas warned that rare breeds such as the Cyprus bovine breed must receive special protection when diseases such as foot-and-mouth appear.

“When one case is found, you cannot simply kill 100 or 150 animals,” he said.

“These animals should be vaccinated immediately and as a priority before the rest, because we cannot obtain these animals from elsewhere. We cannot import them or even import semen.”

He explained that breeders within Cyprus often exchange breeding animals with each other, meaning the entire population is effectively interconnected.

“All these producers are linked to each other, so you cannot tell them to stop exchanging animals for a period. In practice they form one herd, which means all of them should be vaccinated,” he said.

Tzamaloukas warned that large-scale culling could severely reduce the population and create long-term genetic risks.

“If the total population is about 1,000 animals and 150 or 200 are killed, the remaining 800 face a high risk of inbreeding in the future,” he said.

“If the disease ends and fewer than 500 animals remain, inbreeding will occur – with fewer males available – which threatens the survival of the entire breed.”

He added that inbreeding can lead to animals that are not reproductively viable, stillbirths and the loss of genetic diversity.

“These breeds exist only in Cyprus and have adapted over hundreds or thousands of years to survive in this environment,” he said.

Another major issue, he noted, is that the cattle are traditionally raised through grazing.

“The first step must be immediate vaccination. The second is to provide feed to farmers, because they cannot allow the animals to graze due to the disease and the ban on grazing,” he said.

“The third point is that, if a case appears, all animals in the herd should not be slaughtered, but instead treated, as happens with people.”

Tzamaloukas added that European legislation allows for such exceptions.

He said he had already sent the relevant regulation to the agriculture ministry, noting that it allows rare breeds to be exempted from culling in certain circumstances.

Under EU Regulation 2020/687, which covers ‘category A’ diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, authorities may avoid killing animals if they are officially registered as rare breeds or if they have “high genetic, cultural or educational value”.

In such cases, herds must be placed under strict biosecurity measures and monitoring.

According to scientific data cited in the letter, the Cyprus bovine breed is unique in the world and is recognised by the European Union as such.

The population of the breed remains small. According to the latest count conducted by the agriculture ministry in 2024, there are just 1,304 animals across Cyprus, including 737 females and 82 males over two years old.

Researchers warn that if this number drops significantly, the breed could face genetic collapse and severe inbreeding, threatening its long-term survival and resulting in the loss of an important part of Cyprus’ genetic heritage.