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The drought that hit France in 2019 obscured the future of pastoralists and their herds (image for illustration). PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP

In this time of drought, 85 departments are on alert for water restrictions. The months of July and August were marked by hot weather. Livestock has been particularly affected. Throughout the summer, ranchers struggled to feed their animals properly. With a sometimes very heavy cost. Example in Yvelines.

At 67, despite a hand in the cast, Dominique Rey remains hyperactive. Beside his home, some of his cows graze quietly. But the grass is a little yellowed and not very tall. This does not escape the eye of the breeder.

" There is not enough grass to keep them in good condition," Dominque Rey insists. It takes a Breton climate to grow grass. It's easy to understand : overcast, with less than 25 degrees and there, the grass grows. That's not what we had this summer. We had 40, 42, 44 and 45 degrees ! "

To compensate for the lack of grass in the meadows. Since August, the Ministry of Agriculture has allowed the Yvelines to mow the fallow land to give to the animals.

Dominique Rey, who is also a grain farmer, has some untapped plots, left fallow. But for him, this measure is totally useless.

" It's way too late, decisions like that are sad for the breeder. By June 15, we were harvesting fallows that could be valued. But in the month of August, fallow land, it is worthless, because it was burned by the sun. There, it's a missed shot, that. "

To compensate, Dominique draws therefore in his stock of hay planned for the cold season. And once winter has come, he will give some of his grain production to his cows, which comes at a cost.

" It's going to cost me 5,000 euros of grain that I will not sell, to feed my animals. When you do not win much, 5,000 euros is more than what you get to pay, I do not mind . But working for nothing, at one point, it tires us. "

Returning home, Dominique continues to make his accounts. Around him, already two of his colleagues have abandoned their breeding activity. And with repeated droughts , he thinks of it more and more as well.

► See also : France: new aid measures for farmers affected by drought