Published on April 5, 2026
Russian farmers in the Altai Krai, Penza, and Novosibirsk regions are facing severe challenges as authorities enforce the culling of thousands of cattle and other livestock in response to outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies. These measures, deemed necessary for disease control, have raised concerns and anger among agricultural communities already grappling with the economic impacts of the situation.
Reports of pasteurellosis, a bacterial infection that can severely affect livestock, began to surface in late 2025. In Novosibirsk, local officials pointed to unusually heavy snowfall during the winter months as a key factor in the outbreak. The local Ministry of Agriculture indicated that the harsh winter conditions caused a reduction in available food, driving wild animals, which carry the disease, closer to human settlements. This proximity has resulted in infections being transmitted to domestic herds.
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) corroborated these findings, highlighting that extreme cold and erratic temperature shifts have stressed livestock. These environmental factors have reportedly weakened the animals’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections.
Since February 2026, numerous reports of livestock seizures have emerged from farmers and agricultural enterprises in these regions. The situation escalated significantly on March 16, when authorities declared a state of emergency due to the spread of rabies and pasteurellosis. Under this mandate, animals in affected zones are subject to culling in a bid to halt the transmission of these diseases.
Farmers are understandably distressed , viewing them as a heavy-handed approach that could decimate their livelihoods. Local agricultural organizations are calling for a more measured response that considers the long-term impacts on farming operations. As the situation develops, many in the affected regions are left to grapple with the ramifications of this aggressive disease control strategy.
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