Slovenia reports Bluetongue disease outbreak as sheep meat production declines
Authorities confirm bluetongue outbreak on sheep farm as meat production dips slightly
SLOVENIA – Slovenia is currently dealing with a case of bluetongue disease after the virus was detected on a sheep farm in the southwestern town of Ilirska Bistrica.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed the outbreak, which involved one infected sheep out of a flock of 49, according to reports from Reuters and Slovenian authorities on Tuesday.
Bluetongue primarily affects ruminants such as sheep, goats, and cattle and can be fatal to livestock, although it poses no threat to humans or the safety of animal products like meat and milk.
This development comes as the country’s sheep meat production continues to show a gradual decline over recent years.
Drop in Sheep Meat Output
In 2022, Slovenia’s indigenous production of sheep meat was estimated at around 1,400 tonnes, based on data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS).
That figure represents a drop of roughly 4% from 2021, when the total production was slightly higher.
Although the change might appear small, it aligns with a general downward trend observed in the country’s sheep farming sector.
Flock Size Continues to Shrink
The number of sheep in Slovenia also fell in the same period, declining to 117,196 in December 2022 from 119,267 recorded a year earlier.
This decrease in population further reflects ongoing shifts in the livestock industry, where long-term data from CEIC shows the country has averaged around 109,832 sheep annually since 1992.
While the reasons behind the drop were not directly linked to the bluetongue case, the outbreak adds to the pressures faced by sheep farmers in maintaining animal health and stable production levels.
The discovery of the disease and the overall decline in output and flock size may have implications for future supply and the domestic market.
Slovenia’s sheep farming sector is relatively small compared to larger European producers, but any disruptions may still affect local meat availability and prices.
The economic value of Slovenia’s annual sheep meat production, based on the current average global price of about US$6.00 per kilogram, would be in the range of US$8.4 million, placing the scale of the industry in clearer perspective.
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