{"id":629463,"date":"2025-12-13T03:40:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T03:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/629463\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T03:40:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T03:40:35","slug":"farmers-block-roads-as-mass-cattle-culls-expand-in-occitanie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/629463\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers Block Roads as Mass Cattle Culls Expand in Occitanie"},"content":{"rendered":"

France\u2019s battle against lumpy skin disease<\/strong>\u2014a fast-spreading viral infection that affects cattle but does not infect humans<\/strong>\u2014took a dramatic turn on Friday, December 12, 2025<\/strong>, as police clashed with farmers trying to prevent the slaughter of entire herds and tractor convoys blocked major roads across the southwest. [1]<\/a><\/p>\n

At the center of the tension is a government \u201cstamping-out\u201d strategy: when a single case is detected in a herd, authorities can order the culling of all animals<\/strong> on the farm to stop the disease from spreading and to protect export markets. Farmers\u2019 unions say the approach is economically devastating, emotionally traumatic, and\u2014crucially\u2014unnecessary when vaccination could be scaled faster<\/strong>. [2]<\/a><\/p>\n

What happened on December 12: tear gas, culling, and motorway blockadesA farm in Ari\u00e8ge becomes the flashpoint<\/p>\n

In Ari\u00e8ge<\/strong>, veterinarians began slaughtering a herd after security forces moved in late Thursday to clear protesters who were blocking access to the farm. French media reports described hundreds of farmers<\/strong> gathered to stop the euthanasia of around 207 bovines<\/strong> at a site near Les Bordes-sur-Arize<\/strong>, with police using tear gas<\/strong> as tensions escalated. [3]<\/a><\/p>\n

French outlet TF1 also reported that the Interior Ministry cited up to 500 demonstrators<\/strong> attempting to block the operation, with four arrests<\/strong> and no injuries publicly confirmed at that stage. [4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Tractors block the A75 and disruptions spread<\/p>\n

As the farm operation moved forward, protests widened into broader transport disruption across the region. In Loz\u00e8re<\/strong>, at least 100 tractors<\/strong> blocked the A75 motorway near Buisson<\/strong>, with farmers reportedly cutting down nearby trees to fuel a large bonfire and vowing to continue blockades for days. [5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional disruption was reported on the A9<\/strong> and on multiple roads around Toulouse<\/strong>, while clashes between farmers and police were recorded across Occitanie<\/strong>, including the use of tear gas<\/strong>. [6]<\/a><\/p>\n

A64 shut down near Toulouse as new case emerges<\/p>\n

By mid-afternoon, Le Monde\u2019s live updates<\/strong> reported the A64 motorway<\/strong> closed in both directions between Carbonne<\/strong> and Lafitte-Vigordane<\/strong>, with vehicles and tractors blocking lanes and police organizing mandatory exits for motorists. The same live coverage reported a new suspected\/announced outbreak area<\/strong> in Haute-Garonne<\/strong>, near the Ari\u00e8ge border. [7]<\/a><\/p>\n

The latest outbreak picture: cases rise and new areas are put under restrictions<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Agriculture Ministry said the epidemiological situation had been stabilized in Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/strong>, but remained \u201cpreoccupying\u201d in Occitanie<\/strong>, where two new outbreaks were confirmed on December 9 and 10<\/strong> in Ari\u00e8ge<\/strong> and Hautes-Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es<\/strong>. [8]<\/a><\/p>\n

In response, authorities announced a new regulated zone\u2014ZR6<\/strong>\u2014covering all or part of Ari\u00e8ge, Hautes-Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Aude, and Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es-Atlantiques<\/strong>, with tighter movement restrictions. The ministry said the zone includes:<\/p>\n