A disease that is killing a lot of livestock in Greece has forced officials to kill hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats.This has made people even more worried about the possibility of feta cheese shortages, which is Greece's most famous dairy export.Farmers and experts say that losing so many animals could have a big impact on how much milk is produced in the next few months.
The EU protects feta cheese, which is a traditional Greek cheese.The cull is a direct threat to supply levels because it only uses milk from sheep and goats.
The killing started because a very bad disease was spreading through herds in many parts of Greece.Officials say that the harsh measures are necessary to stop the disease from spreading and to keep the national flock healthy in the long run.
Veterinary teams are still watching for outbreaks, and farmers have been told to take strict biosecurity measures to stop the disease from spreading.
More and more people are worried about how much milk is made and how much is sent abroad
Sheep and goat milk are very important to Greece's dairy industry, especially for feta cheese, which is a big part of the country's agricultural exports.A lot of animals have been taken out of production, so milk production is likely to drop a lot.
Producers say that lower productivity could lead to short-term shortages, higher prices, and more stress on small family farms that are already having trouble making ends meet.
