"Hundreds of farmers gathered outside the prefectural authorities' building in the French city of Perpignan on Tuesday to protest the government's policy of culling entire cattle herds after confirmed outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease, dubbed 'cow COVID'. Footage shows protesters ringing cowbells, waving yellow flags and marching through the city, calling on authorities to review disease-control measures. Demonstrators and union representatives said current protocols were insufficient and posed a serious threat to free-range farming, describing the government policy as an 'agricultural failure.' Under existing rules, if a single cow tests positive, the entire herd must be slaughtered. "This meat poses no risk to humans; it is perfectly safe to eat. Yet it is destroyed. It is sent to slaughterhouses and burned. Meanwhile, in France, some people are forced to eat Ukrainian or Brazilian chicken because they cannot afford anything else. We are made to consume that, while perfectly good local meat is thrown away. It's shameful," said one of the protesters. Another farmer said that while all required measures are in place, including vaccination, sanitary controls and movement restrictions, the situation continues to worsen. "We have seen hens that had been vaccinated for forty days and were fully protected by the vaccine. All it takes is one hen that tests positive, and the entire flock is slaughtered. It’s a disgrace," said a protester. "This makes no sense. We're heading straight into failure, and our free-range livestock farming is under serious threat," he added. Frustration over sanitary measures comes amid opposition to the EU's planned Mercosur trade deal, with France reportedly seeking to delay an expected EU vote, officials say. As of December 14, France recorded 113 outbreaks of 'cow COVID' cases this year, leading to the culling of around 3,300 cattle - about 0.02 per cent of the national herd, the Agriculture Ministry said. Farmers say that culling rules, environmental regulations and trade liberalisation are hitting small and medium-sized farms hardest."