French Farmers’ Fury Over Cattle Disease Disrupts Roads as Government Urges Calm Ahead of Christmas

Major roads in southwest France remain blocked as farmers protest against the government’s handling of a devastating cattle disease. With Christmas travel plans at risk, officials plead for calm — but many farmers say they’re not backing down.

Tensions are rising across rural France as angry farmers continue to block major highways in protest against the government’s response to a growing cattle disease outbreak. With Christmas approaching, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has appealed to farmers to lift the blockades and allow families to travel freely during the festive period.

The protests, mostly concentrated in the south-west, have disrupted key motorway routes such as the A64 between Bayonne and Toulouse, the A61 near Carcassonne, and parts of the A20 around Cahors. According to Vinci Autoroutes, the region remains “heavily impacted,” with traffic congestion and major detours affecting both local drivers and transport operators.

What’s Behind the Farmers’ Anger?

At the heart of the unrest lies the government’s management of the dermatose nodulaire contagieuse, or bovine nodular skin disease — a viral infection that first appeared in France in June 2025, initially detected in Savoie. The disease causes severe skin lesions in cattle and can quickly spread through herds, leading to economic losses for farmers.

113 outbreaks have been officially recorded since June.
Over 3,300 cattle have been culled nationwide.
Approximately 16 million bovines form France’s total herd.

The Ministry of Agriculture recently announced an accelerated vaccination campaign targeting 750,000 cattle across the affected areas, particularly in Ariège, where all 1,000 local farms are expected to be fully vaccinated by the end of December.

Despite these measures, many farmers remain skeptical, accusing the government of acting too late and offering insufficient financial support to offset losses caused by the disease and mandatory culling.

Voices from the Barricades

On the A64 near Carbonne in Haute-Garonne, farmers say they’re ready to stay “as long as it takes” — even through Christmas.

“With the difficulties we face on our farms, we’ve reached rock bottom. We’re determined not to give up,” says Alain, one of the protest leaders.

Farmers argue that the state’s health measures are destroying livelihoods already strained by rising costs, low meat prices, and competition from imports. For them, this crisis is just the latest blow in what they see as years of neglect from policymakers in Paris.

Government’s Balancing Act

While expressing sympathy for the agricultural sector, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stressed the need to let traffic flow during the crucial holiday period.

“This is a movement that enjoys public support,” he told Europe 1 and CNews, “but blocking roads and preventing families from reuniting at Christmas could have the opposite effect.”

He also reminded protesters that Christmas weekend is a vital period for the French economy, especially for logistics and retail: “We must also allow trucks to deliver goods on time. The country cannot afford to stop.”

Public Sentiment and What’s Next

The protest movement has so far enjoyed strong support among rural communities, though extended disruptions could test public patience as holiday travel peaks. Many fear the crisis could echo past farmers’ protests or “gilets jaunes” blockades if tensions continue unchecked.

For now, the government’s hope is that swift vaccination efforts — combined with dialogue and compensation — can calm tempers before the New Year. But as some farmers openly state their willingness to “stay through the holidays if necessary,” France could face a very bumpy Christmas season on its roads.