War in Ukraine threatens Italy's livestock

STORY: It may be on the other side of the continent, but Italy's agriculture industry is also feeling the effects of the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine is a major global supplier of animal feed, stocks of which are falling fast across import-reliant southern Europe.

The Italian livestock farmers body Assalzoo warned that hundreds of cows now risk being slaughtered, as stocks of raw materials used to produce fodder may only last for another month.

Acting President Michele Liverini, said if dairy cows were slaughtered, it would take years to produce milk again.

''In the case of dairy cows, if we stop and send dairy cows to slaughter, it will take 7/8 years to rebuild a barn to produce milk again. The problem is very serious, it has to be analyzed by all of us in the chain. From the large-scale retail trade to the farms, cereal growers and importers, we must have a role of responsibility at this time and we must bring an increase to the end customer, to the housewife, to the family, but at least assure them of the food, we cannot do it any other way. ''

Pietro Fusco is the chief executive of milk producer Cirio Agricola in southern Italy.

He says the conflict has exacerbated an already difficult time.

''The Ukrainian-Russian conflict has taken over from an already stressful period for us, after two long pandemic years, which had already put a strain on business management. We currently have problems with the purchase of feed for the animals. Above all, there is also a problem with transport and therefore the impossibility of having supplies on time, so this is what we are suffering and paying a lot for today.''

Italy has called for EU rules limiting state aid to the sector to be waived, while Spain has taken steps to allow emergency purchases of corn from Argentina and Brazil.