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French farmers Protest Mass Culling of Cattle Amid Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak
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Despite growing opposition, the French goverment is standing firm on its strategy to combat the spread of lumpy skin disease (DNC), a viral illness affecting cattle, which includes the systematic slaughter of entire herds where the disease is detected. the controversial policy has sparked widespread farmer mobilization across several French departments, especially in the Southwest.
The Ministry of Agriculture maintains that widespread culling is “the only solution” to protect the entire French beef industry. A senior official reiterated this position on Friday, asserting that “the current protocol works.” However,farmers,backed by organizations like the Rural Coordination and the Peasant Confederation,argue the health protocol is both ineffective and unjust.
The Core of the Dispute: Total Herd Depopulation
At the heart of the conflict lies the government’s policy of total “depopulation” – the complete slaughter of all animals within a herd – upon confirmation of even a single case of DNC. This approach has led to the culling of 207 cows in Ariège alone, fueling outrage among livestock farmers.
Lumpy skin disease is transmitted by blood-sucking insects, such as horseflies, and affects cows, buffalo, and zebus. The disease frist appeared in France this summer in the Savoy region and has as spread, potentially aided by the transportation of cattle. while the most severe cases can be fatal, the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA) estimates the morbidity rate – the frequency of the disease – to be between 10 and 20%, with mortality rates ranging from 1 to 5%. The French Ministry of Agriculture suggests mortality could reach up to 10% of an infected herd.
Symptoms of DNC include skin nodules, fever exceeding 41°C, reduced milk production, and weight loss. Critically, animals can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus for weeks due to a lengthy incubation period (up to 28 days), contributing to its spread.
A Balancing Act: Economic concerns and European Regulations
The government’s aggressive approach is driven by a desire to maintain France’s “free” status regarding DNC, a designation crucial for international trade. European health authorities classify DNC as a “category A” pathology – a serious, “exotic” disease posing significant health and economic risks. Regulations require the slaughter of infected and potentially exposed animals to eradicate the disease.
“If we do not apply” the current protocol, Annie Genevard stated on Friday, “Europe will put France under lockdown and nothing will come out of the country,” warning that exports of animals, cheese, and milk would be halted. France is the world’s leading exporter of live animals, having sent nearly 1.3 million young cattle abroad in 2024, generating over a billion euros in revenue, primarily to Italy and Spain for fattening.
The Ministry of Agriculture points to the success of similar strategies in countries like Bulgaria in 2016, arguing that “the experience of countries which have practiced this method shows that it is the most effective.” Currently,there are no approved medications to treat animals infected with DNC,further reinforcing the government’s reliance on culling.
The ongoing protests highlight a difficult dilemma:
