Police and Veterinary Services have found 23 cattle being kept illegally inside a licensed pig farm in Geri, in the second serious case of unlicensed cattle housing to emerge since Cyprus launched its foot-and-mouth crackdown.
The joint operation followed assessment of specific intelligence. When authorities entered the premises, they found the cattle living in conditions that met none of the standards required for cattle farming and under no veterinary supervision.
The discovery is the second of its kind. The first involved 101 cattle found at an illegal premises in Livadia.
Veterinary Services sources said the operations form part of a broader plan to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
A competent source told philenews that locating animals in unapproved premises represents the greatest threat to the spread of the disease, as the absence of oversight makes animal tracing impossible and significantly raises the risk of viral transmission.
Veterinary Services have begun checking where the 23 cattle were moved from and whether the necessary permits were in place.
The owner and managers of the premises are expected to be called in for questioning and face charges for violations of health protocols and animal welfare legislation.
Authorities said inspections would continue at full intensity.
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