France has deployed military personnel to assist in a massive vaccination campaign as the country faces a major outbreak of lumpy skin disease among cattle, a move that has reignited tensions with farmers over disease control policies and economic pressures on the agricultural sector. Lumpy skin disease, which affects cows and buffalo, is not a threat to human health but can severely impact livestock health, milk production, and the livelihoods of farmers. Authorities estimate that up to 750,000 cows will need to be vaccinated in the coming weeks to contain the spread.
To accelerate the campaign, the French government has called in the armed forces to help transport and administer vaccines, particularly in remote areas where civilian veterinary resources are limited. An A400M military transport plane recently delivered 400,000 vaccine doses from the Netherlands to an airbase near Toulouse, supplementing France’s existing stock of 500,000 doses. Military veterinarians are also being deployed to work alongside local veterinarians to ensure efficient and widespread coverage.
The vaccination drive comes amid escalating protests by farmers, particularly in southwestern regions, who have expressed frustration over mandatory herd culls and strict health regulations. In several areas, farmers have blocked roads and highways to highlight the economic impact of these measures, which they argue unfairly penalize rural communities. Many fear that losing entire herds due to a single infected animal could devastate their livelihoods.
President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the importance of protecting France’s national herd, one of the largest in the European Union, and linked the measures to broader agricultural and trade policies. He has warned that France will oppose international trade agreements, such as the EU-Mercosur deal, unless stronger protections for European farmers are included.
Despite the protests, farmers’ unions have urged calm and constructive dialogue, while authorities stress that the combined effort of vaccination and disease monitoring is critical to safeguarding livestock and ensuring the long-term sustainability of French agriculture. With military support now integrated into the campaign, officials hope to curb the outbreak quickly, reduce economic losses, and restore stability in rural regions before tensions escalate further.
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