Big french heifers grazing in Brittany

A typical grazing operation in Brittany still has the cost of a barn to house the cows through the winter.

Normandy-Holstien cross cow in Brittany, this native French breed of cows has been used in many crossbred systems but wasn't popular with any of the farmers I visited.

French farmers planning their next blockade of Paris streets. No not really, discussing the results from this latest pasture cut.

Saint Urbain, Brittany

Moving to Brittany I've have a great week visiting many farms. I have seen a wide range of approaches to deal with reducing milk price and increasing costs.

Crossbred calves are beginning to be appear on a small number of pasture based farms.

A number of farms have been experimenting with various crossbred systems for long enough to be milking a range of crossbred dairy cattle.
Montbeliarde-Holstein cross heifers.

Heifers in a Brittany pasture based system.

One of the significant issues facing dairy farmers in France is the challenge of putting together a contiguous parcel of land. This railway bridge dissects a heifer grazing area.