In brief
A wave of protests has erupted across France as farmers demand an end to government policies leading to the slaughter of herds affected by Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Demonstrations have escalated in the Ariège region, prompting clashes with riot police. Farmers argue that slaughtering entire herds is excessive and advocate for alternative solutions, while veterinary officials maintain that such measures are necessary to control the spread of the disease, which has affected approximately 3,000 cattle since its arrival in Europe.
Angry French farmers are calling for more protests over the government-backed slaughter of cattle herds affected by so-called Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).On Thursday, clashes occurred between riot police and demonstrators in the southern Ariège department, after vets were called in to destroy potentially contaminated cattle on a farm.Elsewhere in the south, farmers have dumped manure outside government buildings and blocked roads. The offices of several environmentalist groups were ransacked in the Charente-Maritime department.LSD is a highly contagious bovine disease transmitted mainly by fly bites. Symptoms include fever, mucal discharge, and nodules on the skin. While mainly non-fatal, LSD can severely affect milk production, rendering cows unsaleable.The disease arrived in Europe from Africa about ten years ago, with the first French outbreak occurring in the Alps in June, causing a disruption during the Tour de France.The government's policy of slaughtering entire herds upon detection of a single infected animal has met with strong opposition from two of the three main farmers' unions. The Confédération Rurale and Confédération Paysanne argue that the current measures are unnecessarily draconian and advocate for the use of selective culling and vaccination instead.Contrarily, most veterinarians support the government's approach, with Stephanie Philizot, head of the SNGTV vets' union, stating that there's no way to differentiate between healthy and symptomless virus carriers.Since June, around 110 outbreaks of LSD have been reported in France, with approximately 3,000 animals slaughtered to control the disease's spread. The French government is alarmed that the protests could escalate into a broader movement, as farmers contend with increased EU regulations and international competition.A significant protest is planned in Brussels next week during the EU leaders' summit, as various farming sectors in France grapple with crises, including declining wine consumption and avian flu impacts on poultry farming. There is also widespread dissent regarding an impending EU free-trade agreement with South American countries, which farmers fear could flood France with cheaper imports produced under relaxed regulations.
