Bilan provisoire de dix mois de crise du marché de la volaille en France

After a prosperous period, broiler production has passed through several crises (1957, 1961 , 1963, 1964). The latest one was particulary serious. Wholesale prices were subject to important daily fluctuations and ojten stayed below production costs. Some authors think that this crisis is durable and linked with the technical nature of this production which can expand easily. Others believe that the main factor is market structure and size of firms : the transmittal of market information to the breeders is not satisfactory ; leading firms do not cut down their production when market conditions become unfavorable. The lac\ of concentration leads to important, production and manufacturing costs, all the more as production areas are far from consumption areas. This is important for certain areas since, as a result of the Common Market regulations, subsidies to cover part of the transport costs for exported poultry were abolished. Concentration has not been realized through « voluntary » agreements between firms, but large concerns with important financial reserves are obtaining control over firms with financial difficulties and thus concentration is developing. Different solutions have been considered to obtain a better balance between supply and demand. Market information should be improved and should emphasize quality aspects. A number of other steps to reduce input costs, to reinforce the countervailing power of the breeders and to stabilize supply are recommended.