Contagious Dermatosis Nodular: The Disease Could Kill 10% of Cattle in France, According to Annie Genevard
Of around 2,700 animals euthanized in France over the past five months, more than 1,700 were in an area divided between Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Ain.
There lumpy skin disease (LSD) could kill 10% of cattle in France if the strict health protocol in force was not respected, Annie Genevard warned on Saturday 6th December 2025 the Minister of Agriculture.
The minister had come to defend Besançon the recent slaughter of a herd of 83 cows in Doubs, which crystallized the tensions. The police intervened dislodge demonstrators came to support the breeder and allow the slaughter of the herd after a cow has tested positive for disease.
The disease is spreading “at lightning speed”
LSD is a “very serious” disease, and that spreads “at lightning speed”. It can lead to the mortality of 10% of the French cattle herd, that is to say more a million and a half of animals, warned Annie Genevard during a press briefing at the prefecture.
The strategy sanitary official, which provides in particular, if an animal is contaminated, euthanize the entire herd, “brought fruit in Savoy and in Haute-Savoie, argued the minister. In these two departments alpine, “we eradicated the disease in four months” and “life came back”, according to her.
Yes, the strategy put in place is working and we will protect French livestock farming.
A possible relaxation of the protocol? It’s no
On Tuesday, the slaughter of a herd of 83 cows on a farm in Pouilley-Français, in Doubs, took place in a stormy manner. A posteriori, the Doubs prefecture reported on Thursday analysis results showing that four cows, and not just one, were in fact contaminated in this herd.
Annie Genevard, who was scheduled to meet on Saturday the breeder touched by this massive slaughter, demanded a speech of “compassion, but also truth”, excluding any relaxation of the protocol.
After the despair of slaughtering a herd, there is the hope of rebuilding a herd, of returning to life on the farm. And it is this hope that we absolutely must cling to.
On approx 2700 animals euthanized in France for five months, more than 1,700 have been in an area divided between Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Ain, the first center of the epizootic which is now striking in the Pyrenees and Doubs.
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