French farmers in southwest of France are intensifying protests t against the government’s handling of the contagious nodular dermatosis (DNC), also known as lumpy skin disease (LSD), a viral cattle illness not transmissible to humans.
The outbreak, first detected in June in the Savoie Region, south of Switzerland and north of Monaco, has spread to over 112 farms by December 15.
Farmers, led by unions such as Confédération Paysanne (10,000 members) and Coordination Rurale (15,000 farm members), oppose the mandatory total culling of infected herds, demanding widespread vaccination instead.
They argue that euthanizing entire herds destroys years of genetic breeding and livelihoods, with over 3,000 animals already slaughtered.
The largest farmers’ union in France is the Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles (FNSEA), has more than 212,000 members, and often aligns with policies that favor large-scale agribusiness . FNSEA supports the government’s policy of total herd culling in infected outbreaks, viewing it as essential to contain the disease and protect the broader agricultural sector from widespread economic losses.
Nevertheless, protests escalated in early December, with farmers blocking farms to prevent veterinary interventions. In Ariège, hundreds occupied a farm on December 10, protesting the planned slaughter of 207 Aquitaine blonde cows. Clashes erupted on December 11 when police evacuated the site using tear gas, leading to four arrests amid accusations of far-left involvement. The herd was reportedly culled overnight, despite family divisions over consent.
On December 14, 27 protests involved over 1,000 farmers, including highway blockades on two major highways. Demonstrators installed Christmas trees on barricades, vowing to persist through holidays.
The government, under Minister Annie Genevard, defends the culling protocol as essential to contain the virus, warning that inaction could decimate 10% of France’s 16 million bovines.
Supported by the FNSEA-Young Farmers alliance, Genevard launched a vaccination campaign for 1-million animals in a 50 km radius around outbreaks, but rejects nationwide vaccination due to potential EU trade risks labeling France a “risk zone.”
On December 15, she visited Toulouse for crisis talks, asserting the situation is “under control” while open to dialogue on protocols.
Broader grievances fuel the unrest: proposed cuts to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget and the impending EU-Mercosur trade deal, feared to flood markets with cheaper South American beef.
