The urgency of cattle vaccination

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The gendarmes took a position near a farm to supervise the intervention, while veterinary services proceed to the slaughter of an entire herd. 90 animals were euthanized the exploitation of Pierre-Jean Duchêne, located in the heart of the infection household. France Télévisions had met the young breeder of 28 years the previous week. He could not then resolve to see his herd disappear. “”Imagine this empty building tomorrow. Me, clearly, that prevents me from sleeping anyway. And I think I won’t get over it“He said.

Since that day, new animals of his herd have presented symptoms of nodular dermatosis. Preventive slaughter is the measure, radical, which applies. The young man, proven, did not wish to be present. Some breeders who supported him attended the intervention this Tuesday, July 22. “”It’s inhuman, what’s going on. Elevators cannot assume this. They all cry as the beasts fall “Confides, in tears, Christian Convers, breeder and secretary general of rural coordination.

In the region, a large vaccination campaign was launched within a radius of 50 kilometers around infectious households. On the exploitation of the Rosay family, 125 animals received the injection in the afternoon of Tuesday. The first doses were delivered five days earlier. A race against the watch for veterinarians, as the disease spreads quickly.

“”We have 12,000 to do in 15 days, and the unit takes approximately at least three weeks to set up. This is why it’s urgent to vaccinate as quickly as possible“Explains Thomas du Terrail, veterinarian. With 21 days of waiting before vaccination immunity, breeders will have to remain vigilant, aware of the risks despite vaccination.”What we fear is that we have a beast that is positive by the 21 days and that we are forced to shoot down the herd“Said Éric Rosay.

The disease presents no risk for humans, but European regulations block the marketing of cheeses produced with milk from affected farms, up to 28 days before confirmation of cases. In Savoy, 200 tonnes of cheeses are thus blocked in cooperatives. “”It is still 2 million euros in economic losses for a Savoyard cheese sector, which is not acceptable. The profession has enough concerns with this disease so as not to add more“, Advocates Thomas Dantin, breeder and president of” Savoy cheeses “. The breeders call for it to the Ministry of Agriculture to unlock the situation.