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As a private or commercial livestock owner, you are obliged to report certain animal diseases. You can find a list of notifiable animal diseases on the overview page on "Animal diseases" from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, it is not only the outbreak (i.e. the detection of the disease by a vet) that must be reported, but also the mere suspicion of an outbreak.

According to the Animal Health Act, compensation can be granted by the Animal Disease Fund for livestock losses caused by animal diseases. However, one of the prerequisites for this is that the disease report is submitted immediately and the number of livestock kept (horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, bee colonies) is reported to the animal disease fund at least once a year and the annual contribution is paid.

If you suspect that an animal disease may have broken out, report this immediately by telephone or in person to the competent veterinary authority. This is the responsible district administration, which is also responsible for the independent towns in its area.

The following information is helpful:

• What disease is suspected or what symptoms are occurring?
• Type, number and location of the animals
• Owner of the animals
• Have measures already been taken? If so, which ones?
• Have animals been bought or sold?

You must also immediately take all possible measures to prevent the spread of the disease (e.g. stabling animals, separating "suspicious" animals from others, ensuring that no animals leave the site).

After notification, the suspicion is investigated by the competent veterinary authority. If it is indeed an animal disease, the necessary countermeasures (e.g. quarantine) are taken in the individual case.