The Popular Party in Tarragona province warned on Monday that bovine farm operations have declined by 30% across the region, with a visit to a livestock farm in Horta de Sant Joan highlighting concerns over generational replacement and support for native breeds.
According to Idescat data, the number of bovine farms in the Terra Alta area has fallen by over 45% between 2018 and 2024. The wider Terres de l'Ebre region has seen a reduction of more than 35%, while the overall Tarragona province experienced a decline exceeding 30% in the same period. Popular Party deputy Elisa Vedrina, accompanied by Alfonso Macías, a deputy and second secretary of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Commission, attributed this decline to a lack of economic profitability for farmers.
Vedrina emphasised that despite the primary sector receiving the bulk of European Union budgets, aid is not reaching farmers. She stated that the Spanish government president and the agriculture minister are directly responsible for the funds received from Europe. "Aid to the sector is not arriving, and professionals are warning about it," Vedrina told reporters, adding, "Across Spain, there are more than 165 catalogued native breeds, and over 140 are in danger."
Calls for Greater Support for Native Breeds
The Popular Party underscored that support for livestock farmers' associations, aimed at promoting these breeds, has not improved. This includes aid for breeding programmes, implementation, and genetic improvement, despite the Ministry of Agriculture receiving a report from Federapes detailing a sharp decline in the census of these breeds. Vedrina expressed deep concern over the lack of government assistance for a sector she described as "so important for the country."
She highlighted that livestock farming not only generates economic activity but also helps protect ecosystems across much of the territory, keeping forests and landscapes clear. This role is particularly significant given the fires experienced in the area in recent years, according to Vedrina.
Congressional Action on Livestock Defence
In response to these concerns, the Popular Party secured support in the Congress of Deputies for a Non-Legislative Motion. This motion advocates for the defence of native livestock breeds as a valuable genetic heritage of Spain. "We ask Sánchez to listen and act, because caring for, preserving, and backing native breeds offers opportunities to families and young people who wish to enter livestock farming, thereby ensuring the much-needed generational replacement," Vedrina concluded.
