French sheep production to drop

Sheep production in France is forecast to decline in 2007, for the third year in succession, with output for the year predicted at 123,000 tonnes.

However Bord Bia says that consumption in France in 2007 is also expected to be slightly lower, resulting in little change in the import requirements of lamb meat for the year.

During 2006 a drop of 2% in French sheep supplies was partly offset by an increase of 4% in cull ewe disposals. This decline followed a drop of over 2% in sheep supplies for 2005.