"Police in southern France on Friday escorted veterinarians to a farm to slaughter a herd of cows suffering from a potentially deadly disease, French news agency AFP reported. The order to kill the cows at the farm in a village in the Ariege area sparked protests in recent days. Farmers tried to protect more than 200 cows that had nodular dermatitis, commonly referred to as lumpy skin disease. France is tightening rules to deal with outbreaks of the disease."
"Protesters had been demonstrating for two days outside the farm before the culling. Dozens of them had stayed after nightfall on Thursday to block the farm in the village of Les Bordes-sur-Arize. Some farmers and supporters, who see the culling order as exaggerated and cruel, had earlier chopped down trees and set up barricades to prevent the veterinary staff from entering."
"Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said four people were arrested in the clashes. Local authorities said the brothers who owned the farm were in support of culling the herd as a precaution against the disease. But protesters dispute this narrative, with the head of the union leading the protest saying one of the two brothers was against the slaughter. "They are tearing this family apart," said Pierre-Guillaume Mercadal, of the local Rural Confederation union."
Police escorted veterinarians to a farm in Ariege, southern France, to slaughter a herd of more than 200 cows diagnosed with nodular dermatitis (lumpy skin disease). Farmers responded with protests, using tractors, chopped-down trees and barricades to block access. Demonstrations lasted two days and continued after nightfall, during which hay bales burned and clashes occurred. Security forces used tear gas and arrested four people. The government said culling, vaccination campaigns and restrictions on cattle movement are necessary to contain the disease and offered psychological support to affected farmers. Farm owners’ divisions increased tensions.
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