Equine milk production in France: challenges and solutions

Equine milk production has been developing in France since the end of the 1990s. Today, more than a hundred producers (around 120) use jenny and mare's milk, mostly in cosmetics and occasionally in the food market, be- cause of the numerous qualities of the product. This niche sector, poorly structured and federated, includes farms with small herds that rely on an alternative agricultural model. It is often associated with the maintenance of rare breeds and specific local areas, illustrating its impact in the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. In this context, the objective of this research is to better understand the characteristics and organizations of equine milk producers in France, the problems they encounter and the possible solutions to structure this sector. To this end, a qualitative approach was used with around fifty equine milk producers, combining participant observations on farms (for around ten of them) and face-to-face or remote interviews (for all). The comparison in discourses between desired and effective practices highlights coherences and paradoxes that can influence producers' organi- zation. The description of equine milk producers highlights differences in management methods, production prac- tices and ethical choices. Difficulties come from questions about the refusal of slaughtering, animal wellbeing, characteristics (purebred or not), and sale, product certification, marketing, and economic viability of structures. They are notably caused by a lack of knowledge, available training, and references on the production of equine milk. Finally, by identifying the recurring problems encountered by producers, the research will lay the founda- tions for improving the organization of this production and strengthening collaborations between the different ac- tors of the sector. Moreover, this study paves the way to identify avenues of scientific research that could support the development of this sector under construction.