War in Ukraine Spurs Feed Shortages, Threatens European Dairy Farmers
Dairy farmers throughout southern Europe are feeling intense pressure as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine sparks growing feed shortages. Ukraine, which is a major global supplier of animal feed, has been unable to export corn and wheat, two major feed ingredients, for the past several weeks.
According to Reuters, Italy’s agriculture industry is specifically feeling the effects of the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Assalzoo, an Italian livestock farmer organization, has warned hundreds of dairy cattle are at risk of premature culling as stocks of raw materials used to produce feed might only last for another month.
If dairy cows are slaughtered due to the lack of feed, Michele Liverini, acting president of Assalzoo, says 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 seven to eight years to rebuild a barn to produce milk again,” Liverini says. “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, chief executive of milk producer Cirio Agricola, located in southern Italy, says the conflict in Ukraine 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,” Fusco says. “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.”
Hungary, Serbia and Moldova are also adding to the feed shortage dilemma, Reuters reports. These countries have banned exports as they work to safeguard their own agriculture products.
In Spain, feed supplies have also been depleted. The country was previously a serious buyer of Ukrainian corn products but was cut off shortly after the Russian invasion.
Agustin de Prada, supervisor of Spain’s ranchers’ affiliation, Asoprovac, in Castile and Leon, states the rise in prices had been brutal and raises questions concerning the viability of farms.
