A first crowd bath to try to calm a sector in a desperate situation. The new Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, visited on Thursday, October 3, the Livestock Summit – 650 exhibitors from 32 countries, 2,000 animals, 120,000 visitors expected – held in Cournon-d’Auvergne (Puy-de-Dôme ) from 1Ahem and until October 4. He was also due to remain there on Friday to accompany Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Economy Minister Antoine Armand.
Previously deputy (Les Républicains) for Doubs, former president of the National Association of elected mountain officials, she has so far been well received by professionals who recognize her knowledge of the subject and her work around the EGalim law, which regulates relations commercial in the food sector. “She knows the world of breeding very well. For the rest of the agricultural sector, we are waiting to see.” nuance Christophe Chambon, deputy general secretary of the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA).
After receiving the agricultural unions and the agricultural chambers in recent days, the minister toured the corridors of the summit to meet with the ranchers, remembering her method: “listening, dialogue and action”. Nothing less will be necessary given the immense expectations of the profession, hard hit since this summer by a “ unprecedented health crisis », recalls Aurélien Teyssier, president of the black sheep section of Velay. This is due to the increase in bluetongue serotype 8 and the appearance of serotype 3 in France in early August.
“We lose many animals and there is no treatment. For serotype 3 there is a vaccine financed by the State for certain departments. But for serotype 8 that affects us here, there is no vaccine coverage and there is a great lack of availability. I managed to have 300 for a flock of 500 sheep.” continues Aurélien Teyssier.
“Free vaccines remain limited”
Although sheep are the most affected by this epizootic that decimates flocks, transmitted from one infected animal to another by the bite of a mosquito of the genus Culicoides, sheep are also affected, “Strongly restricting animal exports”insists Yohann Barbe, president of the National Federation of Milk Producers and vice president of the National Interprofessional Center for Dairy Economy. Added to this is epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which affects both types of breeding equally.
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