Russia Reboots Animal Vaccine Production After Livestock Culling

The Russian president signed a new order that reshapes how animal vaccines are made after a cattle outbreak caused thousands of deaths in Siberia. The event led to protests and demands that top officials step down, a rare reaction in wartime Russia. The decree combines several state‑owned firms into the Russian Biological Industry Company to boost independence and attract investment in veterinary medicine. Farmers blame irregular vaccination on small farms for a mutated pathogen that spread beyond the Novosibirsk region.The U. S. Department of Agriculture suggested a possible foot‑and‑mouth disease outbreak, raising doubts about vaccine quality and trade risks. Russian regulators deny the claim, noting that foot‑and‑mouth shots have been routine since 2022. Before sanctions in 2022, Russia bought up to 70% of its animal vaccines from abroad. Today, the same percentage is produced inside the country, thanks to a planned tenfold increase from Shchelkovo Biokombinat in 2024. The shift aims to secure the supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign technology.