US EditionFrance lifts most cattle movement curbs on eve of Paris farm show
Restrictions on cattle movement were lifted after no new lumpy skin disease cases since January, though the Paris Agriculture Show featured no live cattle for the first time.
- On February 20, France's Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard announced lifting most restrictions on cattle movement, a day before the Paris farm show opened, due to no new lumpy skin disease cases since January 2.
- Since January 2, officials reported no new lumpy skin disease cases, after 117 outbreaks near the Alps and southwest regions, a disease spread mainly by biting insects.
- On February 21, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Paris Agriculture Fair without cows, marking the first time since 1964 the event had no live cattle.
- The absence of cattle meant the usual 500 to 600 cattle were missing, prompting students preparing a video to replace the prize cow and a shift to non-bovine exhibits.
- Farmers have criticised herd culls by the government during the outbreak, fueling protests in Paris last month, while Coordination Rurale and Confédération Paysanne boycotted the presidential meeting over economic and EU-Mercosur trade deal concerns.
28 Articles
28 Articles
The 62nd International Agricultural Fair opened in Paris this Saturday for nine days, in a new or a little sad atmosphere, due to the absence of cattle.
The President of the Republic inaugurated on Saturday 21 February the Agricultural Fair while the unions remain fractured around the management of the bovine dermatosis crisis and the free trade agreements. In the spans, farmers entrust nothing more to the executive.
On Thursday, 21 February, the head of state inaugurated the 62nd Agricultural Fair in the midst of tensions with the peasant world. Emmanuel Macron recalled that this moment was propitious to "be behind the French farm" before announcing that he would receive, with Annie Genevard, the Minister of Agriculture, "each of the unions that wish to do so".
The largest farm in France opened its doors on Saturday morning. Visitors flock even though the cows, the most emblematic animals of the Salon, are not present.
The Salon de l'Agriculture 2026 opened this Saturday morning: 100 cows and 100 bulls. Pigs, sheep, goats... the first visitors were ecstatic when they saw them. This year, the Salon is a bit special, no cow is present because of the nodular dermatosis, a contagious disease that appeared a few months ago in some herds. They are not physically there, but their shadow is in all the alleys, as well as their herdsmen. The other animals have received …
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