Bulgarian sheep brine cheese is becoming more and more popular in Europe. And France wants Bulgarian lambs for its market. This was understood by over 90 Bulgarian farmers who visited the largest animal breeding exhibition on the Old Continent, which took place a week ago in France, Nova TV reported.
Veselin Naydenova and her husband have been looking after sheep for 20 years. They started with 20 animals, and now they take care of over 800. The family was part of the Bulgarian delegation at the livestock exhibition in France, where they understand that we are far behind – technologically, legislatively and in general – professionally.
“The genetics are at a very high level there. A selection is being made, and in Bulgaria it is much more difficult. The farms are mechanized, modernized,” Veselin explained.
In order to modernize sheep farming in France, the local breeders did something very simple – they joined together in cooperatives. “Bulgaria is in the queue in the EU for association, and this is the only alternative for all small and medium-sized livestock farms. The point is that we don’t have legislation. In France, even one of the big banks is owned by a farmer cooperative”, explained Simeon Karakolev, co-chairman of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association.
The cooperative in France solves the biggest problem that Bulgarian livestock breeders have – bureaucracy. The possibility of crossing French meat breeds with Bulgarian dairy sheep was also discussed, which would be beneficial for both countries. And the Bulgarian sheep is liked because it gives a lot of both. That’s why France wants our lambs.
If the export of Bulgarian lambs to France begins, this would be a potential problem, reported the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association.
The industry is united on how best to partner European and Bulgarian sheep breeders – with dairy products that were highly valued. “The average price of dairy products in this region was over 20 euros. Over 80 percent of the production of such cheeses in Bulgaria – from sheep’s and goat’s milk – is for export. A large part of them are for Western Europe. Bulgaria’s main customer for sheep’s cheese is Germany. And it should not only be an emblem for export, but an emblem for Bulgaria”, explained Simeon Karakolev – co-chairman of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association.