Bulgaria is the only country in The EU, which has reduced its sheep population so many times in 40 years. We can boldly lead a ranking, but in any case, sheep farming remains the same. Despite everything, it is a traditional Bulgarian industry.
This was stated by the chairman of the National Association of Sheep Breeders in Bulgaria, Simeon Karakolev, in an interview with BNR.
"If I can compare it with the golden years, when there were 11 million sheep, until 1989 - the apogee of development, then at the moment there are 10 times less sheep. There are about 9,000 sheep breeders left, they are found in regions where sheep and cattle breeding is the only livelihood of these people. For 90% of them, it's not a business, it's passed down from generation to generation," commented Karakolev.
"Livestock and agriculture are left to their own devices. When there is no clear goal of what you want and what you are striving for, nothing results. In the last 20-plus years, I don't remember a minister saying, "this is the goal – more animals, more people to farm or greater productivity". Without a goal, there is no way to achieve a goal, we observe mediocrity. I hope to change this with the EU's strategic plans, which are about targets and benchmarks. But here we are faced with our outdated legislation to catch up with the needs of the EU. The administrative burden on farmers must be reduced", explained the problems in the sector, the chairman of the Association.
"I take my hat off to such people who continue to struggle to produce food," he praised the few remaining sheep farmers.
He explained that the prices on the market this year for lamb are affordable, but the bad thing is that lamb and mutton are not consumed year-round in our country, as was the tradition.
"In the countries around us, they consume it all year round, but in our country only on Easter and St. George's Day. The most important reason is a change in tastes, the younger generation resorting to semi-finished products from pork and chicken. Before, there was no yard in the village without sheep. Now there are few left - about 9,000 farms, with about 50 animals each. Which is nothing compared to 1989," said Simeon Karakolev.
He added that no more breeds of sheep are bred for wool because "unfortunately, the last enterprise that worked with wool closed its doors".
"In Bulgaria, wool is already considered waste, not raw material. Sheep's cheese still maintains its positions in Western Europe and the Middle East, as an export-oriented product. We do not export lamb, as the consumption, which is growing by the sea and in restaurants, leads to the satisfaction of the Bulgarian market and there is nothing for export. And we exported about 5 million lambs a year," Karakolev recalled.
And added:
"Unlike Western Europe, where sheep farming is also industrialized, in our country we have the unique chance to have meat and milk from animals raised on pastures. In Western Europe, cows are raised only on manure and do not taste fresh grass".
Kolev recalled that May 24 is the 12th edition of the National Council on the Meadows of the Peter and Paul Monastery.
"The event is in the top 3 in Bulgaria and more than 200,000 people pass through it," said the chairman of the sheep breeders.