“I had to lock them up even though they had a taste of the outdoors. I won’t hide from you that it wasn’t easy. The first four days, they rotate a lot,” immediately announces François Destribos, a duck fattening breeder in Sainte-Colombe, in the Landes, but also a Label Rouge poultry breeder. Since mid-October and the decision taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry to raise the risk linked to avian flu from “negligible” to “moderate”, it has been forced to confine its animals. As of October 29, the one who is associated with his brother-in-law Yannick Lalanne, had 5,000 ducks in confinement. “Here, we are in a particular risk zone (ZRP), that is to say an area in which natural conditions increase the risk of contamination of farms by wild fauna, but also in a zone at risk of diffusion since we We have a high density of poultry farms around. We must therefore confine all animals that are over 42 days old,” specifies the breeder.
The cost of vaccination
A year ago, France launched its first duck vaccination campaign against avian influenza. “Thanks to this, we spent the winter more or less peacefully,” recalls François Destribos. Based on this vaccination, the breeder would like more flexibility regarding the confinement of the animals.
“For the moment, these cases of avian flu concern farms in Brittany. We are several hundred kilometers from Brittany. Why not implement containment measures by geographic sector? », asks the breeder. Especially since for him, the confinement of his animals represents a significant additional cost: “We do two hours of mulching per day. Between working time and use of machines, it comes to €1.50 per duck. We must also add the cost of the vaccine, 30 euro cents per animal. »
Farmers: why the cup is full and the anger can no longer be contained
They poured out their exasperation and their demands at the start of the year for weeks, then they returned to the fields, loaded with promises. Ten months later, climatic and health hazards have further deepened the disarray and the dissolution of June swept away the promises. Farmers return to battle
François Destribos produces 50,000 fattened ducks per year. For him, the vaccination bill therefore amounts to 15,000 euros. An additional concern affects him: until now, the State has committed to 85% of the cost of vaccination, but it is much less precise about the financing of future campaigns.
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