10,000 Head of Small Livestock to Be Brought to Northern Cyprus from Spain

A delegation representing the livestock sector of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is set to travel to Spain on May 26 to finalize an agreement for the import of 10,000 certified, healthy small ruminants.

According to Adil Onalt, President of the Animal Breeders and Producers Association, the animals will be imported to support the development of small-scale livestock farming in the country. The visit also aims to raise awareness around meat and dairy production, particularly in light of the EU registration of halloumi, and to help reduce the meat shortage in the TRNC.

Current estimates suggest that there are over 65,000 cattle and around 330,000 small ruminants in the country, although the exact figures remain unclear due to insufficient tracking.

“We’ve already achieved the desired quality standards in large-scale livestock farming,” said Onalt. “But small livestock farming plays an even more vital role in this process. If we fail to meet the required milk-to-meat ratio under the EU’s halloumi registration guidelines, we could run into major issues down the line.”

In the first phase of the project, 10,000 animals will be imported. As required by current legislation, they will remain in quarantine for one month before being distributed to local farmers. The broader aim of the initiative is to increase the overall population of livestock in the country.