“The average dairy herd in France is currently around 70 cows, which is obviously very small compared to the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands,” French dairy specialist Benoit Rubin, told Farmers Weekly.
“We’re now starting to see herds of 100-300 cows emerging, however, alongside development plans which include the potential for a substantial expansion of both dairy production and export sales.”
Rubin, the dairy research leader at Idele (L’Institut de l’Elevage), France’s livestock research and development organisation, spoke after heading a high-profile industry seminar with the provocative title Is the dairy sector in New Zealand all-conquering or has it run out of steam?
Addressing more than 300 dairy farm students his core message was they can learn a lot from the way NZ farmers have grown output and exports over the last 20 years.
And they could do with a good dose of NZ optimism.
As for NZ milk running out of stream, he said the Kiwi industry is facing a series of environmental challenges Idele believes are likely to limit production in the years ahead.
“Maybe we’re wrong concerning NZ’s milk production future,” Rubin said.
“The country’s producers have overcome many barriers in recent years, after all, and will probably do so again.
“However, NZ’s rapid development of milk production over the years has clearly had an impact on the environment with water quality, in particular, deteriorating in line with the increase in nitrogen leaching in dairy areas.
“As a result, water availability, greenhouse gas emissions and animal welfare concerns are increasingly debated by associations and public authorities.”
Rubin’s NZ milk presentation took place at SPACE 2018, a massive farm and agribusiness event, spread across 11 exhibition halls, which takes place each September near Rennes in the heart of France’s Brittany region.
Alongside the SPACE seminar Idele has also produced a detailed 37-page report highlighting what French farmers can learn from their NZ counterparts. Pre-publication research was based on a study visit to NZ in January by Rubin and 11 farm business and scientific colleagues, during which they met farmers, dairy company executives and trade body representatives.
“One of our biggest observations was that NZ dairy farmers are extremely positive and optimistic,” he said.
“Here, in France we’re mainly negative and pessimistic to the extent that the next generation of potential dairy farmers often decide to go into crops or poultry production instead. We need to change that.”
France also needs to overcome the fact that about half its dairy farms are run by groups of farmers or associations.
They work fine when they involve just two or three farmers but not when eight or more producers are involved.
“There tend to be too many chiefs in these larger groups, resulting in constant disputes over what to do next,” Rubin said.
“It’s also not good for young people starting out in dairying.
“We have a rich farming environment, especially in Brittany, with good soil, plenty of rain and excellent grass growth.
“Our expansion potential is enormous.
“We just need to find new ways to inspire and train the next generation.”
Rubin believes NZ’s use of sharemilking is a production model French farmers should consider, to give new farmers a low-cost way into the industry.
With his mind set on helping French dairy farmers expand Rubin was asked how he views the prospect of a new free-trade deal being agreed between the European Union and NZ.
“My personal view is that it won’t be good for French dairy farmers, especially if it results in increased NZ dairy products coming into Europe.
“What, after all, will NZ agree to buy from us in return?
“It’s a very big question for us, certainly, especially as we already have problems in our internal market with milk and milk product consumption falling both in France and in Europe as a whole.
“I’m sure we will increase our milk output in the future but any growth we manage to achieve will need to be based on exporting more around the world, especially into China.
“It definitely doesn’t include increasing our imports.”
