French farmers mobilize against cattle culls over skin disease

ISTANBUL

French farmers mobilized on Friday, particularly in the southwest, against the culling of cattle after cases of nodular dermatitis, also known as lumpy skin disease, were detected.

Farmers and livestock breeders staged blockades and demonstrations in front of public buildings across the country to protest the planned culling of around 200 cows infected with lumpy skin disease at a farm in the commune of Bordes-sur-Arize in the southwestern Ariege department, according to local media.

Having gathered at the site since Wednesday to block access for veterinary services, protesters clashed with gendarmes who took control of the farm late Thursday.

Officers reportedly used tear gas to clear around 500 demonstrators from the area and arrested four people, all of whom were later released.

On Friday morning, veterinary services, escorted by police, arrived at the farm and culled around 200 cows.

Various farmer protests erupted across the southern quarter of the country, with demonstrators blocking motorways and gathering in front of public buildings to prevent further cattle culling.

In Bordeaux, farmers dumped several truckloads of agricultural waste near multiple establishments.

At least 200 farmers also gathered Friday morning near a farm in the Hautes-Pyrenees department, where 20 cattle were scheduled to be culled.

Confederation Paysanne, France's major farmers' union, called for “blockades across France” to protest the government’s approach to managing the disease.

In the meantime, speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said they had "no choice but to cull" the cows because "vaccines don’t work once the cows are already contaminated."