Mass livestock culling is underway in several regions of russia, particularly in Siberia, with farmers reporting forced slaughter and lack of transparency from authorities, ProAgro Group reports.

The situation affects regions including Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Omsk, and Altai Krai, where thousands of cattle have reportedly been destroyed since February 2026, according to local media and farmers.

Authorities introduced a state of emergency weeks ago, but information about the scale of the outbreak was not immediately disclosed, sparking protests among rural communities. Farmers say they are losing their primary source of income, while compensation is often delayed or insufficient.

Officials attribute the situation to outbreaks of infectious diseases, primarily pasteurellosis and, in some cases, rabies. In Novosibirsk region alone, more than 40 infection clusters have been reported. In affected areas, veterinary services are removing livestock and disposing of them, sometimes at temporary or improvised sites.

However, farmers complain about a lack of transparency. They claim that laboratory test results are not disclosed and that decisions to cull animals are made administratively. Refusal to comply may result in fines or forced seizure of livestock. Law enforcement authorities have reportedly launched inspections following multiple complaints.

At the same time, several sources suggest that the real cause could be foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious animal disease that requires total culling in affected zones. Some regional officials have hinted at this possibility, although it has not been officially confirmed.

Experts believe that authorities may be downplaying the situation due to economic risks. An official FMD outbreak could trigger export restrictions, particularly from key markets such as China and neighboring countries, potentially causing significant financial losses.

There are already signs of trade disruption. Kazakhstan has imposed a temporary ban on imports of meat, dairy products, and live animals from affected Siberian regions. Other importing countries are reportedly considering similar measures.

Analysts warn that if a more serious disease such as FMD is confirmed, restrictions could extend beyond livestock products to include feed grains and compound feed supply chains.