Agriculture, Estonia, Financial Services, Legislation, Markets and Companies

These calculations are based only on plans of biggest players, if small producers were taken into account, the figure would be even bleaker.

For example, Jõgeva county-based AS Perevara, has decided to liquidate the majority of its dairy cow herd, making 75 out of the company’s 100 employees redundant and liquidating 4 dairy farms out of 5 since the company's chief executive Alo Teder confirmed that the company would otherwise face a loss of EUR 600,000. Currently the company has 1,300 dairy cows in 5 farms and after Midsummers, only one farm with 220 cows will remain.

Also, Ida-Virumaa producers' association intends to give up its dairy cow herd fully; in the middle of last year, it had 800 cows.

Estonian Breeders Association head Tanel Bulitko said that since last August, when Russia imposed an embargo on goods from the EU, the situation has become worrying which is why milk producers began to reduce labor costs, and revised cattle feeding strategies, i.e. reduced the share of more expensive, but necessary fodder components in the ration.

Bulitko said that the worst thing is that the thoroughbred herds end up in slaughterhouse, which means destruction of dairy herd with high potential, developed lover hundreds of years.