French farmers have been protesting against the government's mandatory culling protocol for cattle herds affected by lumpy skin disease

French farmers have been protesting against the government's mandatory culling protocol for cattle herds affected by lumpy skin disease

 Idriss BIGOU-GILLES

An outbreak of a highly contagious cattle disease has left France, the world's top exporter of live animals, struggling since June to prevent devastating impacts on its industry, amid growing protests by farmers.

But in 2016 several Balkan nations curtailed major epidemics of the same disease through swift action, mass vaccination and culls in about three months.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.