A typology of activity , organisation and strategies of pig producers comunities in the western regions of France

The pig producers communities were created through the French regulation during the sixties. They are very important, especially in the western regions of France. In Bretagne, the members of these communities produce more than 95 % of the total production. In the region "Les Pays-de-la-loire", this share is the same as for France, 90 %.These organisations are mostly specialised co-operatives or parts of co-operatives involved in several sectors. First of all they have to market pigs. But they became more and more active in several other activities : technical advises to the farmers, conception of buildings, veterinary and financial services, etc. Some communities have also subsidiaries or financial assets in companies, like feed facilities, breeding companies, packing plants.In order to describe and to better understand these complex organisations and activities, enquiries were made in Bretagne and in "Pays-de-la-Loire" in 1996. The research suggest a typological classification of producers communities.Four types and seven subtypes were defined, according the activity of the company who has created a chain of enterprises.For three types, the communities are voluntarily linked with suppliers or customers. The fourth type want to remain totally independent and keeps 30 % of the Briton production.The strategies and activities of the communities are mostly judged on the ability :- to develop the independent farms,- to give them access to the market, bringing good responds to the demand.In the next future, the communities have also :- to offer good solutions against the environmental constraints,- to help the producers to satisfy the new demands of consumers and of citizens,- to assist young people for entering this activity.