Russia hides real cause of mass livestock culling in Siberia

Russia is carrying out large-scale forced livestock culling across several Siberian regions, including Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Altai Krai, and Omsk. According to local media and farmer reports, thousands of cattle have been destroyed since February 2026. Authorities declared a state of emergency a month ago but delayed informing the public, sparking protests among farmers who are losing their primary source of income.

The official explanation points to outbreaks of pasteurellosis and, in some cases, rabies. In the Novosibirsk region alone, more than 40 infection clusters have been reported. Animals are reportedly being seized without proper documentation and burned at improvised sites. Farmers complain that officials are not providing lab test results and that promised compensation often fails to materialize, prompting Russia’s Investigative Committee to begin reviewing complaints.

However, multiple sources suggest (including the governor of the Sverdlovsk region) that the real cause may be foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious virus that typically requires total culling. Authorities have allegedly linked the outbreak to “sabotage,” such as contaminated imported feed, but publicly deny this to avoid panic and strict quarantine measures.

Experts and farmers believe the lack of transparency is driven by economic concerns. An official confirmation of FMD would automatically trigger export bans on livestock products to key markets, including China and neighboring countries. Such a move could paralyze the sector and lead to billions in losses, which is why authorities emphasize the less severe pasteurellosis while delaying emergency measures.

Kazakhstan has already imposed a temporary ban on imports of Russian meat, dairy products, and live animals from the affected Siberian regions due to infection risks. Other importing countries are considering similar restrictions. Analysts warn that not only meat and livestock, but also feed grain and compound feed from these areas could come under scrutiny if FMD is laboratory confirmed.

Tags: Russia, live livestock