Lamb Prices in Bulgaria Expected to Rise 10% Ahead of Easter Amid Supply Concerns

Livestock breeders in Bulgaria are expecting lamb prices to rise by around 10 percent ahead of the Easter holidays, driven by higher production costs and the impact of disease outbreaks among sheep.

Producers say the expected increase is linked not only to more expensive feed, fuel, and electricity, but also to the consequences of sheep pox, which has led to large-scale culling of animals in affected regions.

The National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association warns that the market could face a noticeable shortage this year. It estimates that between 50,000 and 60,000 animals will not reach consumers due to last year’s disease control measures and the slaughtering of infected herds.

The shortage is particularly visible in the Plovdiv region, where around 25,000 animals were destroyed. Although there is currently no active infection in the area, restrictions on the transport of live animals remain in place.

Farmers on the ground confirm that the situation varies by region. Maria Ivanova, a livestock breeder from the village of Shtarkovo in the Pazardzhik area, who keeps about 200 sheep, said on BNT that her farm was not significantly affected by the outbreak, as the infection was quickly contained in a nearby village.

She notes that while prices are expected to rise overall, the increase is not uniform across producers. In her case, she says she is currently selling lamb at around 7 euros per kilogram of live weight, compared to about 13 leva last year, and argues that the rise is driven more by higher input costs than by market shortages alone.

Ivanova adds that imported lamb is likely to fill the gap in supply. She points to Romania and North Macedonia as main sources of imports, suggesting that both official and unofficial trade channels may contribute to covering domestic shortages despite efforts to regulate slaughterhouses.

She also advises consumers to rely on official certification when identifying Bulgarian-produced meat, saying that the presence of an inspection stamp in stores is the most reliable indicator, along with the freshness and appearance of the product.

Looking ahead, she stresses that the key issue for the sector is disease control. According to her, the authorities face a choice between strict containment measures involving culling or a vaccination strategy. She notes that vaccines have already been secured and funding allocated, and argues that a decision on vaccination would allow for more stable production and trade conditions.