"Bulgarian Sheep Farming Scandal: healthy flock culled, sick flock ignored"
In a shocking turn of events, Bulgarian sheep farmers are raising alarm bells over the neglect and mismanagement of a sick sheep flock in the village of Sigmen, while a healthy flock in Velingrad was wrongfully culled. The president of the "Bulgarian Brothers" association, Stoyan Maverodieff, has exposed these scandals in an interview with "Euro Bock".
"We have a healthy flock in Velingrad, with [the agriculture ministry’s] Agricultural-Chemical laboratory testing results showing no signs of disease," Maverodieff stated. "Yet, they came, took samples, and claimed they were positive, stating we had ovine rinderpest. We sent samples to a Greek lab, which tested negative."
The situation in Sigmen, however, is starkly different. Despite over 300 deaths and clear symptoms of ovine rinderpest, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has taken no action. The farm, home to luxury-constructed facilities and elite breeds like "il de franc" sheep, is renowned for its high standards. Yet, no European funds were involved in its creation.
Maverodieff lamented, "The BFSA is turning a blind eye to the Sigmen case. We’ve reported it, but no actions have been taken. This is a clear case of neglect." He also criticized the BFSA director for inaction, stating, "The BFSA isn’t doing its job."
With the European sheep market worth billions and Bulgaria’s flocks at risk, the lack of action is raising concerns among farmers and consumers alike. As the situation stands, the BFSA’s reputation and the Bulgarian sheep industry’s future hang in the balance, awaiting tangible action and transparent investigation.