Mixed pig and cattle farming systems in the Massif Central: understanding these systems to better appreciate their future ; Comprendre le fonctionnement des systèmes mixtes porcins- bovins du Massif Central pour mieux appréhender leur avenir

Abstract

International audience ; Pig production in the Massif Central (France) relies mainly on mixed livestock farms that combine pig and cattle units. Within a context of specialization and economies of scale, the sustainability of these systems is at stake, with the risk that pig units could disappear from these farms, in a territory dominated by herbivore farming. The association "Porc Montagne" initiated a research project funded by the CGET Massif Central at the end of 2018. It included an analysis of the functioning and future prospects of these mixed pig-cattle systems. Eleven actors of the pig production sector in the Massif Central were interviewed to identify its specific issues. Then, a postal survey was sent to all 1,250 farms in the territory producing more than 10 pigs per year, to describe in detail the structural and functional characteristics of these farms and their outlook, and to develop a typology of mixed pig-cattle systems. The 266 responses confirmed the high occurrence of mixed farms (75% of farms) and the aging of farmers (50% are over 52 years old). The preponderance of farms combining pigs with beef cattle (43%) or dairy cattle (16%) and of specialized pig farms (25%) led to the definition of six main types of farming, differing in the associated herbivore (dairy cattle; beef cattle; no cattle) and the presence of sows (with sows; without sows). These types varied in form, functioning and future prospects. Thus, this study specifies current issues for maintaining pig production in this region. ; La production porcine du Massif Central repose majoritairement sur des exploitations mixtes, associant des ateliers porcin et bovin. Dans un contexte tourné vers la spécialisation et les économies d'échelle, la pérennité de ces systèmes est questionnée, avec un risque de disparition des ateliers porcins dans ce territoire dominé par l'élevage d'herbivores. Un projet de recherche initié fin 2018 par l'Association Porc Montagne, financé par le Commissariat du Massif Central, comporte une analyse du ...