France Chooses Vaccination Over Mass Culling as Farmers Protest Animal Disease Policy

Post by : Saif Nasser

France has announced plans to vaccinate around one million cattle against lumpy skin disease in the coming weeks, as farmers across the country protest against the government’s policy of culling entire herds. The decision marks a major step to control the disease while easing growing anger among livestock farmers.

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said the vaccination program aims to protect both farmers and France’s cattle exports. The announcement comes after several outbreaks of the disease led authorities to order the killing of whole herds, a move many farmers believe is too harsh and financially damaging.

Lumpy skin disease is a viral illness spread by insects. It mainly affects cattle and buffalo, causing skin blisters, fever, and a drop in milk production. The disease does not affect humans, but it can lead to trade restrictions and serious losses for farmers and exporters.

In recent days, protests have intensified. Farmers blocked part of the A64 motorway south of Toulouse, using tractors to stop traffic. Around 400 farmers remained on the road on Saturday, showing their frustration with the government’s handling of the crisis.

Minister Genevard said the state would fully support affected farmers. She promised compensation not only for animals that are culled but also for business losses caused by movement bans and farm closures. She also said vaccination would be mandatory, calling it the best way to protect animals from the disease.

The government, supported by the main farming union FNSEA, argues that full culling of infected herds is sometimes necessary. Officials say the disease can spread without visible symptoms, making it hard to detect early. Without strict measures, authorities warn that at least 1.5 million cattle could be at risk.

However, not all farmer groups agree. The Coordination Rurale union has criticized the mass culling policy and is calling for more targeted actions, such as isolating sick animals and using quarantine rules instead of killing entire herds.

So far, France has reported 110 outbreaks in nine regions and has already culled about 3,000 animals. Since the first outbreak in late June, the government has paid nearly six million euros in compensation to farmers.

As vaccination begins, the government hopes to stop the spread of the disease, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and restore calm in rural areas. The coming weeks will show whether this approach can balance animal health, trade needs, and farmer concerns.