Greek sheep and goat cull threatens feta cheese production

Greece is culling hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats due to an infectious disease outbreak, raising concerns about a potential feta cheese shortage. The disease, sheep and goat pox, has spread across the country since August 2024, leading to mandatory culling of entire herds upon detection. Approximately 417,000 animals have been culled so far. Feta cheese production relies heavily on sheep and goat milk, with 80% of Greek milk used for this protected designation of origin product, which is a significant export for Greece.