Russia's Novosibirsk region in Siberia has declared a state of emergency to combat outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies in cattle, prompting protests from small farmers whose livestock are being forcibly culled. The emergency measures, announced by regional agriculture minister Andrei Shindelov, aim to coordinate actions and restrict animal movement, according to state news agency TASS.
Officials have identified five outbreaks of pasteurellosis, a severe bacterial pneumonia, and 42 cases of rabies. Thousands of cows and other cattle are being burned to contain the diseases, with villagers confronting police and officials to resist the seizure of their animals. In one video, farmer Svetlana Panina chased Shindelov through a local administration building, saying she lost 200 head of cattle, including three camels.
Many farmers claim they were unaware of the emergency declared a month ago and argue that pasteurellosis can be treated with antibiotics, making culling unnecessary. The seizures have primarily affected small farms, while larger agricultural enterprises were spared, fueling anger. The emergency allows farmers to seek compensation, with first payments being processed.
The Russian agriculture watchdog attributed the outbreak to extreme winter cold weakening animal immunity and urged farmers to avoid using feed of unknown origin. Several other Siberian regions have reported smaller outbreaks or remain on alert. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that affected regions are coordinating with Moscow, though no major crackdown on protesters has been reported.
