Bluetongue Virus Threatens Sardinia's Historic Sheep Farming Industry
On the island of Sardinia, a bedrock of Italian sheep farming, breeder Michela Dessi has seen 150 of her flock die and 140 lose their lambs in the last few months due to an insect-borne disease called bluetongue that is ravaging local livestock.
Sardinia is home to three million sheep, almost double the number of people, and accounts for 40% of Italy's sheep population. The industry employs more than 27,000 people and is an intrinsic part of the Mediterranean island's cultural identity, thanks to products such as the...
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