Paris: In a dramatic response to escalating unrest among French farmers, the French government has deployed the military to assist in a nationwide cattle vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease. The move aims to contain the outbreak of the contagious livestock virus while easing tensions sparked by protests over government culling policies and the broader economic pressures facing rural communities.
The outbreak of lumpy skin disease, a viral infection affecting cattle that can lead to severe illness and productivity losses, has prompted the French authorities to intensify efforts to vaccinate herds across the country. While the disease poses no risk to humans, its rapid spread threatens livestock health and trade, placing significant financial strain on farmers. To speed up inoculation efforts, the French army has been called in to provide logistical support and veterinary personnel, ensuring vaccines reach remote and underserved regions.
Soldiers have already transported hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses from military depots to affected areas, supplementing civilian veterinary resources. The government plans to vaccinate approximately 750,000 cattle within a month, with military veterinarians deployed alongside local professionals to reach farms in hard-to-access regions, particularly in the southern departments such as Ariège. Officials hope that the combined civilian and military efforts will prevent further spread and restore confidence among farmers.
For many farmers, the government’s requirement to cull entire herds when infections are detected has fueled anger and despair. Tractor blockades, road disruptions, and public demonstrations have become common in recent days, particularly in rural areas hardest hit by the outbreak. While the largest farm union, FNSEA, has supported disease-control measures, smaller organizations like Confédération Paysanne and Coordination Rurale have criticized the approach as overly harsh and insufficiently protective of farmers’ livelihoods.
Protests are not only about lumpy skin disease but also reflect broader concerns over economic challenges, regulatory burdens, and potential impacts from international trade agreements such as the EU-Mercosur deal. Farmers fear that foreign competition could further destabilize local markets, adding to the pressure from livestock disease management.
Government officials have stressed that vaccination, coupled with selective culling and movement restrictions, is essential to protect the French cattle industry and prevent potential trade sanctions. France, as the EU’s largest cattle producer, faces high stakes if outbreaks remain unchecked. Authorities maintain that the temporary involvement of the military is a necessary step to safeguard both animal health and farmers’ economic stability.
President Emmanuel Macron has also sought to address farmers’ broader concerns by warning that the Mercosur trade deal will not be ratified without strong protections for European producers, signaling political responsiveness to rural constituencies amid mounting protests.
As vaccination campaigns accelerate with military support, the government hopes to quell farmer unrest and restore stability to the countryside. However, the protests have underscored long-standing frustrations in rural France over economic pressures, regulatory complexity, and the challenges of balancing public health with the protection of livelihoods. For many in the agricultural sector, the lumpy skin disease outbreak has highlighted both vulnerabilities in the industry and the need for stronger support systems in times of crisis.