European Conservation Strategy 2024

After many setbacks in 2023, we have decided to take a necessary new path in the conservation of the Djallonké sheep population in Europe.

Side note: The only purebred Djallonké (Cameroon) sheep in Europe are in the two countries Belgium and the UK. The total number in 2023 is less than 200 "purebred" sheep.

What happened?

• Tightened rules in Belgium.

Since January 1, 2019, there has been a ban on slaughter without stunning in Flanders. The same ban came into effect in Wallonia on September 1, 2019. Only the Brussels Capital Region still allows slaughter without stunning (..Halal, Kosher). Thereafter in July 2023,  Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare Ben Weyts (N-VA) proposed a new Animal Welfare Codex. The codex bundles existing and new rules regarding animal welfare: for example, animal markets and home slaughter of certain animals are prohibited, and alternative punishments, such as mandatory training and guidance, can be imposed on people who cause animal suffering. This will come into effect at the beginning of 2024. Then in August 2023, the Brussels Government also followed with an animal welfare codex. The restrictions surrounding home slaughter, ritual slaughter and temporary slaughter floors ensure that 1) it is for the sheep farmer. and more specifically the keepers of the small Djallonké (Cameroon) sheep are no longer profitable to continue keeping this breed. Most breeders are located in the Flanders region. And they can perfectly sell their sheep to residents of the Brussels Capital Region. But the yield is too low compared to the same slaughter costs on a larger breed of sheep.

In addition to that Nv Abattoir, the company that facilitates the Anderlecht slaughterhouse, will not renew its environmental permit for slaughter activities after 2028. The processing and distribution of meat would continue. Since it is the only slaughterhouse in the region, this would de facto mean the end of slaughter without stunning on Brussels territory.

• Bluetongue outbreak in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Since the beginning of September 2023, the Netherlands has been dealing with an outbreak of a new serotype bluetongue, more specifically serotype 3 (BTV-3/NET2023), a variant that has not previously been found this far north. Vaccination was effective in the past, but no suitable vaccine is available against this variant. The livestock disease bluetongue is also on the rise in the north of Belgium which has previously been internationally declared free of this disease since June 2023. This affect movement within the EU or the export of animals and animal products.