French Herds Fall as Drought Forces Surge in Cattle Slaughter

Overview

• Culture Viande, the federation of abattoirs and meat processors, warned Monday that this summer’s forage shortfall has made France’s long-term herd decline far worse and described the situation as catastrophic for the sector.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Agreste statistics show breeders are sending more animals to slaughter, with dairy cow culls up about 12% year-on-year and overall bovine abatements rising in August.
• Farmers have depleted pasture and hay reserves after the 2026 heatwave and drought, forcing many to cull animals they cannot feed and producing leaner cattle that need more time or feed to reach market quality.
• Processors are under pressure because fattening capacity in France is limited and margins were already squeezed after abattoirs paid higher purchase prices in 2025 that were only partly passed to retail, raising the risk of falling wholesale prices.
• The combined short-term shock and longer-term loss of about one million cows over the past decade threaten future domestic supply and could prompt more farmer exits, with wider effects on rural incomes and meat-sector jobs.