No cows allowed at French agricutural show • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Boine: Refers to cattle specifically raised for beef production, and the competition to identify the best specimens.
• Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): A contagious viral disease affecting cattle, characterized by fever and skin nodules.
• Culling: The selective slaughter of animals, often to control disease outbreaks.
• Merkosur Trade Agreement: A trade agreement between Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and the European Union, currently a source of farmer protest in France.
• Solidarity Boycott: The breeders’ refusal to participate in the National Agriculture Fair as a demonstration of support for farmers affected by LSD and criticism of government policy.

The Absence of Cattle at the National Agriculture Fair

For the first time in its 132-year history, the National Agriculture Fair in France will proceed without a cattle competition (“boine” competition). This represents a “heavy blow” to the fair, given its historical and cultural connection to cattle farming since its inception in 1964. The decision stems directly from a current outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) within France’s cattle population. LSD is a contagious viral disease that causes fever and the development of lumps on the animals, exclusively affecting cattle.

Breeders have collectively refused to send any cattle to the fair, even for symbolic representation, due to fears of potential contamination and disease spread. This refusal constitutes a “boycott” and a demonstration of “solidarity” with farmers whose herds have been impacted by the disease.

Government Response and Farmer Discontent

The boycott is directly linked to growing farmer dissatisfaction with the French government’s strategy for managing the LSD outbreak. Specifically, farmers are protesting the government’s policy of total culling – the complete slaughter of entire herds identified as infected. Farmers have been advocating for a shift in strategy for six months, calling for an end to total culling and a wider implementation of vaccination programs. As stated by a representative of the farming community, “We’ve been calling for a change in strategy with an end to total culling and an expansion of vaccination. We've been asking for this for 6 months and nothing has moved.” This lack of response has fueled further unrest.

Broader Agricultural Protests & Calls for Unity

The situation surrounding the National Agriculture Fair occurs against a backdrop of ongoing farmer protests. On Tuesday preceding the fair, tractors once again entered Paris as part of demonstrations against the Merkosur trade agreement. This agreement, between Mercosur nations (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and the European Union, is perceived by French farmers as detrimental to their livelihoods due to increased competition from South American agricultural products.

Despite these ongoing tensions, organizers of the Salon d'Agriculture (National Agriculture Fair) are urging a temporary cessation of these divisions to allow for a successful event. They are calling for unity amongst farmers, at least for the duration of the fair, to present a cohesive front.

Synthesis

The absence of cattle from the National Agriculture Fair is a significant event, symbolizing the current crisis facing French cattle farmers. The situation is a direct consequence of the Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak and the government’s controversial culling policy. This has led to a breeder boycott, highlighting a deep rift between farmers and the government, compounded by existing concerns regarding trade agreements like Merkosur. The fair’s organizers are attempting to navigate this complex landscape by appealing for temporary unity, but the underlying issues remain unresolved.