Livestock farm in Pakhna resumes operations after foot-and-mouth disease

Six months after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak forced the culling of his entire herd, Father Christos has begun the process of restoring his livestock unit in Pakhna. This facility is the first in Cyprus to receive approval from the Veterinary Services to resume operations following necessary disinfection and analysis procedures. On November 10, 2026, 28 sentinel lambs aged four to five months were introduced to the farm to monitor for potential resurgence of the virus. These unvaccinated animals, born to vaccinated parents, will serve as indicators for the safety of the site.

Following the arrival of the livestock, a veterinarian from the Limassol district will conduct an inventory. The animals will undergo a period of intensive surveillance, with new samples to be collected and analyzed within 21 to 30 days. If the test results are negative, the farm will gradually continue the restocking process. Father Christos noted that he financed this restoration independently without state assistance. Meanwhile, representatives of local livestock unions, including Neofytos Neofytou, emphasized that while this is a significant milestone, there is growing frustration among farmers in the Larnaca and Nicosia regions regarding delays in the reactivation of their own affected units.