Wiped Out Overnight: Why an Entire Croatian Town Just Lost All Its Pigs
A small Croatian community is in shock as nearly 1,800 pigs are ordered to be euthanized following a government directive to control African swine fever.
A Town in Mourning
In the village of Jagodnjak, located in Brodsko-Posavska County, heartbreak and outrage are spreading faster than the virus itself. Farmers are watching helplessly as their entire pig populations—built up over years—are being culled within days. The cause: a sweeping government response to African swine fever (ASF).
What Happened?
After confirmed cases of ASF in both domestic and wild pigs in nearby areas, Croatia’s Ministry of Agriculture ordered an emergency measure: the complete removal of all pigs in Jagodnjak. Nearly 1,800 pigs from 142 farms are being systematically euthanized and destroyed under strict biosecurity protocols.
Veterinary inspectors and other state services are overseeing the process, ensuring carcasses are disposed of properly and facilities are disinfected. But to many, this feels less like disease control and more like devastation without dialogue.
“No Testing, No Exceptions”
The controversy lies in how the directive was implemented. Most local farmers are registered and compliant with biosafety rules. Yet, they say they were given no options—no testing, no delays, no exemptions.
Smallholders claim they were left in the dark. Meanwhile, large-scale farms with more than 1,000 pigs were allegedly exempted from the culling. This perceived double standard has fueled anger and protest.
Locals Speak Out
Local mayor Daniela Mlinarević has condemned the lack of support and communication from national authorities. “We offered to fund testing ourselves. We asked for 14 extra days. We got nothing,” she said. “Decisions are being made far from the reality on the ground, and the damage will be enormous.”
A Bigger Problem
Antun Golubović, head of Croatia’s Pig Farmers Committee, went even further, calling the crisis a “war” that’s been mishandled since it began. He blames the unchecked spread of the virus on poor oversight of wild boar populations and inadequate enforcement in hunting zones.
According to him, the culling of domestic pigs is a blunt-force solution that punishes those following the rules, while the real carriers—wild boars—roam freely, even into towns.
The Fallout
Baranja, the region encompassing Jagodnjak, accounts for nearly 30% of Croatia’s pig farming. With its livestock gone and confidence in institutions shaken, the economic and emotional damage to this community will take years to repair.