Shortage of beef: young farmers no longer interested in breeding

Jean-Luc Boujon, edited by Maxime Asseo 09:29, January 27, 2023

The conclusion is clear.

The number of cows in France continues to decrease, at the risk of speaking of a shortage of French beef.

In fact, the herd has fallen by 11% in ten years while at the same time, imports of foreign beef are growing: +6% last year.

One of the main reasons for this phenomenon: the retirement of farmers who have not been replaced due to a lack of successors. 

>> READ ALSO -

 Sylvie, widow of a farmer: "He was at the end of his rope"

500,000 fewer cows since 2016

This is particularly the case of Didier, 60, who will assert his right to retirement in a few months.

This breeder of Charolais cows in Monsols in Beaujolais has found no buyer for his 12th century farm, its 100 hectares of land and his herd of 55 suckler cows.

However, he had a lead, which unfortunately flew away: "I had a young boy who had just left school and who was interested. But he preferred not to commit. He wants to keep an employee status because otherwise, he is afraid that it will weigh him down to start his life...", says the breeder with disappointment.

His daughter is not interested in the takeover either.

She chose to start growing spelled and hemp.

According to Didier, cattle breeding and all its constraints explain the reluctance: "It's obvious that monitoring a herd is 24 hours a day. You plan an outing on Saturday or Sunday, but in the end it's is the calving that is getting ready that day... You have to be passionate about animals, otherwise it won't work. Cattle are not the dream of our young people..."

If no buyer appears, Didier's cows will be sold or left as butcher's meat.

Since 2016, France has lost nearly 500,000 suckler cows and almost 100,000 per year...