The breeders of goats and sheep warn that the number of animals this spring is lower compared with other years. Besides, the animals that weren’t slaughtered following last summer’s drought are now very skinny and even ill. However, the chairman of the Association of Goat and Sheep Breeders Pintilii Bulgaru has told IPN that the number of kids and lambs born is not much lower than last year.

A lot of breeders informed that many of their animals are ill, especially the kids and lambs. Many of the sick animals died or are slow in developing. Veterinarians said the animals suffer from contagious echtyma. Only the goats and sheep, especially the young ones up to 2-3 months, are affected by such an infection. The disease does not pass to humans through milk or meat.

A kilogram of lamb at the market now costs 80-85 lei. Pintilii Bulgaru anticipated that the price of lamb and mutton will not go under 70 lei a kilogram. As to cheese, a kilogram at the market is sold for about 60 lei. The intermediaries buy it from producers for 40 lei, but will soon purchase it for 30 lei a kilogram and such a situation is detrimental to the producers.

According to the data of the Association of Goat and Sheep Breeders, after last summer’s drought the number of goats and sheep in Moldova decreased to about 500,000.