Heat hits poultry farming: Western France reports heavy losses, state pledges rapid aid

Nantes – 02.07.2026: In western France, an intense heatwave has led to exceptionally high losses in poultry farming. Regional authorities report widespread mortality in fattening barns with high stocking densities. Prefectures and veterinary services have activated procedures for the rapid collection and disposal of carcasses and have granted time-limited exemptions for transports to avoid bottlenecks in removal.

From the affected departments come reports of farms losing entire barn sections within a short time. Regional state services coordinated special collections and pointed to the duty to report unusual mortality immediately to the responsible DDPP. In individual areas, including Finistère, authorities documented substantial quantities of animal bodies that had to be recovered or temporarily secured. Veterinary teams monitored the measures to minimize infection risks and limit environmental impacts.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced additional support. Planned measures include short-term liquidity assistance so that affected farms can cover ongoing costs and finance necessary purchases for heat protection. Accompanying this, DRAAF and the prefectures publish technical guidelines: recommendations on barn cooling and ventilation, prioritization of water availability, adjustments to feeding times, and advice on proper disposal. The measures tie into existing aid packages for agriculture and are intended to be quickly accessible via regional contact points.

Economically, the situation hits an already strained sector. Many poultry farmers have been struggling for months with higher energy and operating costs as well as the aftereffects of earlier avian influenza events. The now-promised bridging financings are intended to close liquidity gaps caused by revenue losses and disruptions in supply chains. In the medium to long term, investment in heat management moves into focus: insulated roofs, misting and cooling systems, powerful ventilation, and emergency power concepts that are viable even for smaller farms.

For the administration, operational coordination is a parallel priority. Prefectures, veterinary services and the ministry pool logistics, animal health and environmental requirements to avoid exceeding local disposal and capacity limits. Official guidance emphasizes complete documentation of herds and disposal routes. According to authorities, the detailed rules for aid applications and technical support will be specified quickly so that affected farms can access liquidity and advice within short deadlines.

Industry representatives point out that preventive measures should be supported more systematically in the future to better avert heat waves. These include, in addition to structural adaptations, training in heat management and coordinated emergency plans with buyers and transporters. The current guidelines are meant to help farms limit acute damage and prepare for the resumption of production.