In Haute-Vienne, Breton establishments specialize in rendering. They have been recovering dead animals directly from farms in part of the department for around a hundred years. Essential work in an area where 4000 to 5000 animals die prematurely each year. However, the existence of this company is today threatened.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
In Saint-Léger-Magnazeix, in Haute-Vienne, once collected from farms, dead animals are stored in large metal bins by the Breton company, before being sent to a specialized factory.
This equipment does not belong directly to Breton, but to another company called Secanim. The two companies are thus linked by a subcontracting contract. The latter was brutally broken by Secanim, following a call for tenders which caused it to lose territory.
Marine-Cécile Brunie, the director of the Breton company, does not hide her dismay: “On December 16, I received the registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt which explains that the activity was to end on January 2.” she says.
It was a very hard blow. We are dejected. We didn't expect this kind of situation and, above all, in such a brutal way.
Director of the Breton company
Secanim decided to take over the activity in the area itself, without calling on Breton. The Breton company, which has five employees, suddenly loses 87% of its activity and runs the risk of being in danger if it does not find a new partner.
For their part, farmers now fear that animal collection times will be extended. “The removal of corpses is a guarantee of the quality of our livestock. We don't want the corpses lying around in plain sight of the general public, explains Charles Muller, representative of Rural Coordination 87. Pickup times, so far, have been very good. Our big concern is the delays and conditions for removing these dead animals.”
Secanim ensures that delays will not exceed two days.
The farmers of the Rural Coordination are considering actions to express their concerns, starting next week. It is not excluded to deposit animal corpses in front of the prefecture or in front of targeted places.
- -
