Angry French farmers are calling for more protests over the government-backed slaughter of cattle herds affected by so-called Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
On Thursday there were clashes between riot police and demonstrators in the southern Ariège department, after vets were called in to destroy potentially contaminated cattle at a farm.
Elsewhere in the south, farmers have dumped manure outside government buildings and blocked roads. The offices of several environmentalist groups were ransacked in the Charente-Maritime department.
LSD is a highly contagious bovine disease which is transmitted mainly by fly-bites. The symptoms are fever, mucal discharge and nodules on the skin.
Though mainly non-fatal, it can badly affect milk production and the cows are unsaleable. The disease arrived in Europe from Africa about ten years ago, with the first outbreak in France occurring in the Alps in June, prompting a change in the Tour de France cycle race route.
The government's policy of slaughtering entire herds where a single animal has been infected has met with opposition from two of the three main farmers' unions. They argue for a modified approach involving selective culling and vaccination.
However, many veterinarians maintain that the policy is essential; as there is currently no reliable way to differentiate healthy animals from symptomless ones carrying the virus.
Since June, France has reported around 110 outbreaks of LSD, leading to the slaughter of about 3,000 animals. The situation remains tense as farmers voice their frustrations regarding EU regulations and competition that threaten their livelihood.
A major protest is planned in Brussels next week during the summit of EU leaders, amidst broader agricultural crises affecting multiple sectors due to trade agreements.
