Korney Bizhdov: Emergencies in Buryatia sharply actualizes the need for insurance of farm animals in the regions of Siberia and the Far East

Regional authorities of the agro-industrial complex and livestock breeders of the Far East and Siberia need to intensify insurance coverage for the industrial livestock of large and small cattle due to the risk of the spread of a dangerous infectious disease of farm animals - lumpy dermatitis. This was stated by the President of the National Union of Agricultural Insurers Korney Bizhdov, commenting on the announcement of the state of emergency in the Republic of Buryatia, the press service of the organization writes.

The state of emergency in connection with the outbreak of the livestock disease was introduced by the head of the republic Alexei Tsydenov on January 7, 2022. The centers of distribution were found in five territories of the region: Kyakhtinsky, Bichursky, Mukhorshibirsky, Tarbagataisky and Ivolginsky districts. Infected animals must be destroyed. At the moment, by order of the veterinary authorities of the region, more than 2,200 heads have already been disposed of - 1,700 heads of cattle, 480 sheep.

“According to the NSA, at the end of the year, in Buryatia, only the number of pigs was provided with insurance protection on the terms of state support - almost 76 thousand animals were insured for a total insurance amount of 569 million rubles. But the infection, which was identified last year in the southern regions of the Trans-Baikal Territory, has now been found in Buryatia, which indicates the need for insurance in cattle, too, said NSA President Korney Bizhdov. There is currently no effective treatment for this contagious disease. Significant damage to livestock breeders could be reimbursed by insurance companies if the livestock were insured, since this infection is included in the list of diseases for which insurance is provided with state support. That is, farmers, having paid only half the cost of the insurance policy,

According to the preliminary estimate of the NSA, as of the end of 2021, about 1 million head of cattle were insured in the Russian Federation under the terms of state support.

In 2021, 42 cases of animal disease with lumpy skin disease were registered in Russia, the vast majority in the Far Eastern Federal District: 34 outbreaks in the Trans-Baikal Territory, 3 in Buryatia. Another 4 foci were identified in Bashkiria, 1 in the Chelyabinsk region.