Clashes in France Over Slaughter of LSD-Affected Cattle Amid Broader Agricultural Crisis
Clashes have erupted between riot police and protesters in the Ariège region of France as veterinarians slaughter cattle affected by Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Farmers have also taken actions such as dumping manure outside government buildings, and environmentalist offices were ransacked in Charente-Maritime.
Lumpy Skin Disease is a highly contagious bovine disease mainly spread by flies. Its symptoms include fever, mucal discharge, and skin nodules. The disease reduces milk production and makes cows unsaleable. LSD arrived in Europe from Africa about ten years ago, with France's first outbreak reported in the Alps in June. This initial outbreak led to the shortening of a Tour de France stage.
The French government's current policy involves slaughtering whole herds after a single infection, a strategy opposed by farming organizations such as the Confédération Rurale and Confédération Paysanne. These groups argue for selective culling and vaccination instead. However, the head of the vets' union SNGTV, Stephanie Philizot, states that it is not possible to distinguish infected animals from symptomless ones, which justifies the whole-herd slaughter policy.
Since June, around 110 LSD outbreaks have been recorded in France, initially in the east and more recently spreading to the southwest region. Approximately 3,000 animals have been slaughtered, with officials attributing the spread to illegal cattle movements.
The government is concerned that these protests may escalate into a broader farming movement due to worries about European Union rules and foreign competition. A major protest is planned in Brussels to coincide with the EU leaders' summit. This unrest is part of a wider agricultural crisis, also affecting wine-growers facing declining consumption, poultry farmers impacted by avian flu, and opposition to a forthcoming EU-South American trade deal due to fears about cheaper imports.
