Farmers Protest in Ariège Against Government-Mandated Culling Amid Contagious Nodular Dermatitis Outbreak

On December 11, 2025, hundreds of farmers in Ariège intensified protests blocking access to a cattle farm where 207 Blonde d’Aquitaine cows were slated for culling due to contagious nodular dermatitis (DNC), a fatal but non-transmissible disease to humans. The farmers opposed the government decision enforcing mass slaughter as a disease containment measure, igniting clashes with law enforcement including gendarmerie deploying armored vehicles to clear the barricaded roads. Protesters used tractors, tree trunks, and even set hay bales on fire to resist veterinary teams trying to access the herd.

Prefect Hervé Brabant of Ariège defended the culling as necessary to protect French cattle nationwide, highlighting that the owners of the herd consented to the public health protocol. Brabant emphasized that current regulations mandate culling the entire herd and establishing "regulated zones" within 50 km to control the spread of DNC. However, local agricultural unions had previously proposed an experimental protocol requesting selective culling only of infected animals combined with mass vaccination efforts, but such proposals were rejected by authorities.

The protests escalated into violence with demonstrators throwing projectiles and Molotov cocktails, as the prefect urged calm and respect for officials' decisions. Jérôme Bayle, a regional protest leader, led the demonstrations insisting on protecting farmer interests and opposing the mass slaughter. Coordination Rurale's president Bertrand Venteau described the site as a "place of resistance" against the government mandate.

Similar measures are underway in nearby Hautes-Pyrénées, where about 20 cattle face culling, triggering additional farmer mobilizations. Since the outbreak began in Savoie in June 2025, authorities and farmers remain divided over the best approach, balancing disease control with economic consequences. While the Ministry of Agriculture states the situation is "under control" and is considering preventive vaccination, some groups like Lionel Candelon advocate vaccination as the preferable alternative to slaughter, whereas the FNSEA raises concerns about vaccination’s potential negative impact on exports and prices.

The Ariège clashes represent a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between agricultural communities and the government over managing this cattle disease crisis, with the immediate future uncertain as protests continue and veterinary operations face obstruction.