Police authorities did not allow the protesting Bulgarian milk producers and their animals to walk on the main road E-79, blocking their way to Sofia near the town of Mezdra on Friday. The officers ordered the protestors to find other smaller roads in the region to pass.

The workers from the northwest of Bulgaria announced two days ago they are heading for the capital city along with their cows to rally against the government`s policy in the sector.

"We are to take our hungry cows in front of the parliament," farmers told reporters.

The key demand of the protestors is the introduction of a BGN 0,20 per litre subsidy for the milk placed on the market and a one-off financial aid of BGN 1000 per cow to cover their rising costs. Currently the milk subsidy is about BGN 0,07 per litre.

About 1000 farmers protested in front of the Agriculture Ministry in the end of January but Minister Nihat Kabil called the demands of milk producers "excessive," as BGN 300 M is the sum needed to fulfil them.

However, Kabil then admitted that there is not enough government support for milk production in Bulgaria.