France has entered an intense heat episode that is reshaping daily life and agriculture at the same time. In western regions, soaring temperatures above 40°C have led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of chickens, according to poultry-sector representatives.
Météo-France said June 24 and 25 marked the country's hottest days on record since measurements began in 1947. The extreme conditions have placed pressure on farms, especially in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, which together account for more than half of France's poultry population.
ANVOL, the French poultry organization, said the scale of the losses is still being assessed, but the impact is already considered exceptional. Farmers described a rapid rise in animal stress, with some reporting unusually high mortality within just a few days.
Veterinarian Dominique Balloy explained that poultry are especially vulnerable because they do not sweat and rely on breathing to release heat. As temperatures climb, their respiration accelerates, making prolonged heat far more difficult to تحمل.
To help farms manage the situation, authorities in western France temporarily allowed pig and poultry producers to bury dead animals on site until July 1, while collection services were overloaded. The measure was presented as a short-term response to an extraordinary agricultural strain.
The episode is a clear reminder that climate extremes are increasingly influencing food systems, animal care, and farm resilience. In the years ahead, adaptation in agriculture may become as important as production itself.