R+V Insurance anticipates million-euro losses from animal disease outbreaks

R+V Versicherung expects multi-million euro losses as several animal diseases, including bluetongue and African swine fever (ASF), continue to spread across Germany. The insurer reports receiving daily claims related to bluetongue, a disease affecting ruminants such as cattle and sheep, which is currently being exacerbated by warm, humid weather conditions.

Agricultural expert Carsten Reimer stated that the current bluetongue outbreak is comparable in scale to the 2007–2008 period, when the insurer recorded approximately 14 million euros in damages. Because state compensation for production losses is not available, farmers rely on revenue protection insurance to offset the financial impact of decreased milk production.

Simultaneously, the spread of African swine fever has led to strict movement and land-use restrictions in several federal states. In addition to the culling of entire herds, farmers face significant losses from harvest limitations and transport costs in designated containment zones. R+V is providing coverage for these losses, as well as compensation for harvest quality degradation not covered by state aid.

Conversely, the situation regarding avian influenza has seen a temporary reprieve. Since October 2020, the disease has caused 36 million euros in damages among R+V policyholders; however, the company currently reports few new claims, marking a departure from the high infection rates seen in previous years.