Romanian breeders liquidate herds due to drought; cattle purchase prices fall

Livestock farmers in Romania are struggling to survive due to a devastating drought. The sun has burned the grass in the meadows and pastures, and grain harvests are lower. The supply of feed for cattle is severely limited. Breeders are forced to feed cows with feed intended for winter, because grazing is impossible. Therefore, they are reducing their herds and selling cattle to slaughterhouses, reports Euronews. The cost of feed for cattle is currently twice as high as last year, and the prices of livestock are 30-40 percent lower than a year ago. As a result, cattle breeding and fattening have become unprofitable. Due to the high supply, the prices of slaughter cattle in purchases are falling drastically. Last year, a bull weighing 400 to 500 kg in the south of the country could fetch the equivalent of 1,600 to 1,800 euros. Today, slaughterhouses pay a maximum of 800-900 euros for such an animal. The cattle herd in Romania is falling rapidly. From 7 million cows, only over a ...