Tulcea livestock inspections reveal 7,000 missing sheep and goats

The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) has concluded the first stage of inspections in Tulcea County, Romania, following outbreaks of sheep and goat pox in several localities, including Valea Nucarilor, Peceneaga, Iazurile, and Ostrov.

Inspections revealed significant discrepancies between official records and the actual number of animals on the ground. While official databases listed 32,239 sheep and goats, inspectors identified only 25,236 animals, a difference of 7,003 head (approximately 21.72%). Authorities noted that this gap does not automatically imply missing animals, as each case is being investigated through document analysis and origin checks.

Furthermore, inspectors found approximately 1,500 animals with improper identification. Irregularities included mismatched ear tags, animals listed as dead, sacrificed, or exported that were still present on farms, and animals registered in different counties than where they were located.