December 15, 2025

 

France's culling rules spark anger among farming union as LSD spreads

 

Strict culling rules ignite nationwide anger in France as cases of the deadly outbreak of lumpy skin disease, which cannot be passed on to humans, surge in the southwest of the country.

 

French authorities are working against the clock to contain the rapid spread of lumpy skin disease, a deadly viral infection transmitted by insects that affects cattle.

 

As outbreaks continue to multiply in the southwest, clashes are intensifying between officials and farming unions opposed to the systematic culling of entire herds when a single case is detected.

 

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, 109 outbreaks had been identified nationwide as of December 9.

 

To contain the spread, authorities have adopted a strict policy: culling every herd where an infection is detected, combined with movement restrictions and vaccination. Some farming unions fiercely oppose this approach.

 

The Rural Coordination farmers' union has criticised the government's strategy as disproportionate and ineffective. The Farmers' Confederation, also active in recent protests, has called for nationwide strikes starting on December 12.

 

While the main farmers' union FNSEA has urged restraint, its president Arnaud Rousseau has spoken in support of the government's approach.

 

In a video posted on X, he stressed the need to contain the virus quickly to avoid further restrictions that could affect meat and dairy prices.

 

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard reiterated the urgency of the situation. "This disease must be eradicated; otherwise, it could cause the death of 10% of French livestock," she said.

 

At the same time, the southwest Occitanie region announced an emergency fund of €300,000 (US$352,176) for farmers affected by the disease, regional president Carole Delga announced in a post on X.

 

On the morning of December 12, the culling of the 200-cow herd in Ariège finally began, after police had intervened the previous evening to remove several hundred protesters.

 

Officials have also highlighted cases of illegal animal movements, which they suspect may be contributing to the spread of the virus across France.

 

- euronews