Could France run out of beef?
The question really arises, as the herd is reduced.
The sector would have lost 650,000 dairy and suckler cows in five years.
And the news is not encouraging: the drought has an impact on fodder and breeders must, in addition, cope with rising energy prices, particularly linked to the war in Ukraine, reports
Les Echos
.
However, consumption is in good shape.
The decline has been very limited for ten years, with an average of -0.8% per year.
The problem remains the lack of animals.
Fewer animals
France is the leading European herd of cattle for milk and meat, with 17 million heads.
But the decline is nearly 8% in five years and slaughter is down.
The Livestock Institute fears the loss of one million additional cows by 2030. “Since 2017, there have been fewer and fewer breeders, and therefore livestock, a decline that is going faster than consumption.
If things do not move, we will soon no longer have sufficient production,” explains Cédric Mandin, breeder in Vendée and president of the National Bovine Federation.
A vicious circle would have been set up: the poor remuneration of farmers would lead to a non-renewal of generations on farms.
50% of farmers should cease their activity within 10 years, with too few people to take over.
Go through contractualization
To meet demand, prevent customers from going abroad to buy supplies and therefore save the French sector, professionals are asking for contractual arrangements.
This must be done taking into account rising costs and good remuneration for farmers.
Some have already taken the plunge, such as Lidl or McDonald's, which have signed contracts with cooperatives.
It is the latter who is the first customer of Charolais beef in France.
Company
Soon the end of meat-related designations for vegetable products
Company
A quarter of French people say they limit their meat consumption
Meat
Cow
Consumption
breeder
Farmers
Planet