Livestock farmers are expected to receive additional support as another €48 million will be paid to farmers for compensation (€19.6 million) and income loss (€28.5 million) for animals that died due to sheep and goat plague, plus an additional €2 million will be paid to Regions for operational expenses related to disease control, according to Joint Ministerial Decisions 334715/2025 (Government Gazette B’ 6417/01.12.2025) and 337680/2025 (Government Gazette B’ 6471/03.12.2025).
Specifically, these measures are part of the comprehensive effort to support Greek livestock farming, which has been dealing with the consequences of sheep and goat plague since August 2024. The compensation given to livestock farmers per culled animal based on unit value reaches up to €250 and represents the highest in the EU. It should be noted that €48 million has already been transferred to the Regions for farmer compensation for culled animals and operational expenses of the Regions.
Sheep and goat plague compensation: What’s provided for farmers
It should be noted that compensation for culled animals is paid directly to farmers by the Regions, while the total budget of the new allocation amounts to €19.6 million for farmer compensation and €2 million for operational expenses of the Regions. According to the schedule, the funds will be transferred to the Regions within the next week.
Simultaneously, compensation for income loss constitutes a new support measure and is set at €70 for culled sheep and goats over 6 months old and €35 for lambs or kids up to 6 months old and breeding rams or bucks over 6 months old. The total compensation per farmer is calculated based on the total number of culled animals, and payment of income loss compensation is made directly to farmers by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The total budget amounts to €28.5 million, with payments to be completed within December.
This ensures the continuation of compensation to affected farmers and the smooth operation of Regional Veterinary Services, which remain on the front line for disease prevention and eradication.
Tsiaras: “Necessary intervention”
“The new compensations of €50 million constitute a necessary intervention against the consequences caused by sheep and goat plague. The government is already providing the highest compensations in the European Union for culled animals and today we are activating support for income loss for the first time. This is an intervention that implements the Prime Minister’s commitment to livestock farmers and gives them financial relief until the eradication of the plague and the implementation of the program for rebuilding their farms.
Our priority is to restore the damage, normalize production and ensure a stable environment for those who continue daily to keep Greek livestock farming alive,” stated Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras.
