Livestock farmers in Pallars Sobirà, a region in the Catalan Pyrenees, are demanding that the Catalan government implement effective controls for wild animals carrying tuberculosis. They are also asking for the reinstatement of an older protocol for bovine tuberculosis, warning of protests if their requests are ignored.
The farmers argue that Catalonia should not be classified as a tuberculosis-free zone while infected wild animals continue to roam freely. They say the current situation is critical for the sector because the source of the problem, wild animals on extensive farms, is not being eliminated.
Replacing infected livestock is useless, according to the farmers, as it does not guarantee against re-infection. They want controls on wild animals and a return to the previous protocol, which involved culling only the infected animal, not the entire herd.
Calls for Action and Protection
The farmers are specifically requesting the effective control and culling of tuberculous wild animals. They also seek vaccination and analysis of game animals, alongside protective measures for livestock farmers.
They have threatened to mobilise and take to the roads if their demands are not addressed by the government. This comes as they face ongoing challenges from bovine tuberculosis, which they say lacks an effective solution.
