victim of an error in the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis, a breeder seeks compensation

A year ago, Maris was the victim of an error in detecting bovine tuberculosis within its herd. This dairy farm, based in Ladignac-le-Long, in Haute-Vienne, had to throw away all its milk production and kill seven cows. Having not received any compensation, the farmers plan to file a complaint against the administration. A demonstration of support is planned in front of the Limoges prefecture, this Monday, January 20.

From Panazol to the Marceau market, in Limoges, it is a house well known to cheese lovers in Haute-Vienne. Just a year ago, the Maris dairy farm almost disappeared. “There is the moral damage which is difficult to measure, the image damage, because we have informed our customers of the problemtestifies the boss Pascal Maris. There is the economic situation. This is something very palpable on a daily basis. We have 100,000 euros in unpaid bills, which we have been carrying around for a year. We wait to find solutions which do not arrive.”

The event at the origin of these difficulties dates back to January 2024. Based in Ladignac-le-Long, the operation was then the victim of a serious diagnostic error on the part of a laboratory. Dan the framework of the obligatory annual check against bovine tuberculosis, seven cows in the herd presented suspicious results, and one of them was even declared positive. In this case, the veterinary services are categorical: the entire herd must be slaughtered, the milk destroyed and cheese production immediately interrupted.

Fortunately, the results turn out to be false. L'sample taken was contaminated in the laboratory. The prefect himself comes to announce it to farmers on January 18, 2024. The three hundred cows escaped euthanasia, even if the seven suspected of carrying the epizootic were slaughtered. In the meantime, farmers had to throw away all their milk.

The State makes mistakes and does not take responsibility for them.

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Maëlle Desbles

Breeding manager at Maris house

If amicable compensation was, for a time, mentioned, it has just been rejected by the Ministry of Agriculture. “If we had slaughtered all our cows, we would have been compensated to the tune of 600,000 eurosexplains Maëlle Desbles, responsible for breeding. We are asking for 230,000 euros for the losses and we are told that the money is not available. It's hard to understand. The State makes mistakes and does not take responsibility for them.“

Last year, Maris had to invest in equipment to collect milk from a neighboring farm and thus continue its activity. “We invested 20,000 euros on a milk tank, which has been on sale for a year and which no one wantsdeplores Pascal Maris. For the rest, we have also invested in pasteurizers. The total amounts to 40,000 euros.“

As a last resort, the boss plans to file a complaint against the administration. He must be received at the Limoges prefecture this Monday, January 20, where a support rally is planned for 5 p.m.