Denis Pringault, a cattle breeder in the Orne department, has decided to selectively cull his herd after discovering a cow infected with bovine tuberculosis. His farm has been under a prefectural infection declaration order (APDI) since May 28. The Norman Swiss area, a hilly region shared by the Orne and Calvados departments, has struggled with bovine tuberculosis for nearly a decade. Arnaud Delafosse, during a general meeting of the Orne GDS in early June, suggested that the most likely cause of the disease's spread is environmental contamination by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. The disease is transmitted between cattle on pasture, especially in wet areas where the bacterium thrives, and also through badgers and wild boars. In 2025, eight badgers and five wild boars tested positive for the disease. Pringault's farm in Athis-Val-de-Rouvre, one of two affected areas in Orne, has lost its health status qualification, which means it can no longer sell animals to other farms. Any animals sent to the slaughterhouse must have a permit. One of two cows that tested non-negative in April was later found to be positive after a diagnostic slaughter. Pringault, who has been in a zone of reinforced prophylaxis for several years, expressed concern about the risk of his herd being infected after learning that neighboring farms were infected, including one with contiguous pastures. Testing protocols have been tightened for farms near identified infected farms, requiring immediate testing on cattle over 12 months old using the Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (IDC) and the measurement of interferon gamma in the blood. Pringault chose to selectively cull his animals, a program lasting one year, in consultation with employee Sébastien Marie and part-time employee Nathalie Cavaezana, his spouse. The decision was influenced by the state's compensation for six months of milk losses, which was decided at the end of April instead of three months. Pringault is skeptical about the risk of contamination of the French population by the bacterium, noting the last case dates back to 2004. However, he respects the regulations and will undergo the required medical examinations, including chest X-rays for himself and employees. The selective culling began on May 28, with the elimination of 25 cows, 5 heifers, and 32 young bulls over several days. These animals were in contact with the infected cow, had tested non-negative in previous tests, or were surplus cattle. The first control, called C1, was conducted on July 20 and passed successfully, with the analysis of 12 cows and 6 heifers sent to diagnostic slaughter found negative. The second control, C2, will be carried out in October. The farm's herd has decreased from 110 cows in April to 73 this summer, resulting in a reduction of 30,000 liters of milk production in June, July, and August. The state will compensate for six months of production losses per slaughtered cow. Milk currently produced is paid for by Lactalis but not collected, with Pringault pouring it into the slurry pit and spreading it on plowed land. Negotiations are underway between the Norman dairy interprofessional organization and the Ministry of Agriculture for financial coverage of the discarded milk shared between industries and public authorities. The state compensation for six months of milk losses, as well as the suspension of the meat workshop, will be based on the expertise of the Orne GDS, which also evaluates the value of the animals to compensate those slaughtered. Initial estimates suggest an average compensation of 2,400 euros per cow. Pringault will receive this once the APDI is lifted, with the possibility of requesting an advance from the state before that. Pringault has obtained a six-month pause on bank repayments, which he described as a relief. The return to near normal operations is conditional on passing the last stage: validation by the DDETSPP of the biosecurity measures. Pringault has already advanced in implementing these measures, with a budget of 25,000 euros, 80 percent of which is subsidized by the Orne department, the regional dairy and meat interprofessions. The file was prepared by GDS 61, which has accompanied him from the start. Securing two pastures with fences 2 meters away from the neighbors allows the grazing of 30 heifers and reduces the occupation of the buildings, preventing contact between animals, a key transmission route of the bacterium. Pringault noted that he first sought the agreement of neighboring colleagues.