“Air for the chickens”, “beware, you are ordered by the agribusiness”, “agro no-future farm-factories”, could we read on the banners. About 200 people gathered on Saturday in Langoëlan (Morbihan) to denounce a giant chicken coop project “never seen in France”, according to the organizers, the Collective against factory farms. This gathering took place a few days before a hearing scheduled for Thursday before the administrative court in Rennes after an appeal from associations, including
Water and Rivers of Brittany, who denounce in particular the inadequacies in the environmental impact studies of the project.
In this town of 400 inhabitants not far from Pontivy, the contested project provides for the delivery of “120,000 chickens every 45 days, unheard of in France”, explained Julien Hamon, member of the Collective where he represents the Peasant Confederation. The batches of chicks on average flocks are on average between 20,000 and 40,000, he said. It is an “integrated breeding”, the chicks and the feed as well as the technical support being provided by Sanders (Avril group) which takes delivery of the chickens after 45 days, according to the organizers. The breeders carry the investment and are paid as service providers.
From 60,000 to 120,000 chicks
The farm where this project is planned has so far received 60,000 chicks per batch with three jobs, parents and son. As the parents retire, the new project is carried by the son and another person. “We double production and we lose a job,” said Michel Besnard, the collective of support for victims of pesticides, also party to the appeal before the administrative court.
The so-called “farmer” red label chickens are generally slaughtered after 80 days of breeding. Almost half of the chicken consumed in France is imported and the percentage reaches 80% for collective catering (canteens, restaurants, etc.).