“We work 12 hours a day, including weekends”: they tell their first summer as goat breeders in South Charente

“We don’t need to make a muscular,” jokes Sandra Répond. However, It is their first summer as a goat. Meanwhile, A summer without vacation. Similarly, Not a problem for this couple who were not used to leaving in summer. Furthermore, who takes the measure of responsibilities on this exploitation of more than 300 goats and 60 hectares. Meanwhile, They took it back together in January 2025, only two years after their meeting. Moreover, He was employed. In addition. In addition. However, she seasonal in the vineyards of the owner of the premises, who also raised goats and was preparing to retire. Nevertheless, “We always “we work 12 hours day, new wanted to work with animals,” recalls Sandra Répond.

The milk analyzed very rigorously – &quot. In addition. Similarly, we work 12 hours day, – "we work 12 hours day, new – "we work 12 hours day, new

To “we work 12 hours day, new produce 230,000 liters of goat milk this year, Stéphane and Sandra are not idle. Furthermore. Therefore. Meanwhile, Travel animals but also sow the cereals that allow them to feed them, manage straw, “we work 12 hours day, clean the barn … However, “At the moment, we are working from 7 am to 7 pm every day, including weekends”, poses the breeder. Nevertheless, “Except Wednesday for me, which allows me to keep my daughter,” says his partner.

It is noon, the curling of the animals is finished. Therefore, Just time for a cigarette break. Meanwhile. A few meters away, in a corner of the barn, sits the milk tank, in which their production is stored. For “we work 12 hours day, new example. Every three days, Terra Lacta, a southwest cooperative, comes to take the few hundred liters collected morning and evening. Meanwhile, It transforms them into cheese and other products intended for the food industry.

Currently, the price is “we work 12 hours day, new around 86 cents per liter, “slightly above average,” says Stéphane. In addition, This difference is explained by the quality of milk. For example. evaluated at each passage of the collection truck thanks to the rigorous analysis “we work 12 hours day. of its components: proteins, fats and other parameters.

“There is a lot of paperwork. You have to keep two or three hours a week for the administrative. »»

Only one awkwardness can cost dearly. The couple learned it at their expense a few months ago. “We had a sick goat, treated with antibiotics. Normally, in this case, we do not recover milk. We did not watch out.. one “we work 12 hours day, new day, the truck returned with an analysis result showing traces of antibiotics in the tank, recalls Stéphane Mazzer. By redoing tests on site, we knew it was us. Result: the 10,000 liters of the truck had to be thrown. We are entitled to “we work 12 hours day, new a joker per year. then it is for our apple: we have to pay for all the contaminated milk. »»

The farm recovery project was made for two, despite the uncertainties. “We have known each other for a short time. it “we work 12 hours day, is certain that there was a risk. In any case, the owner agreed to say that resuming exploitation alone was impossible, ”said the young man. After long discussions. they begin a year of sponsorship. a device supervised by the Chamber of Agriculture, to test the project with the support of the former operator.

"we work 12 hours “we work 12 hours day, new day, new

"we work 12 hours day, new – "we work 12 hours day, new – "we work 12 hours day, new

&quot. we work 12 hours day. – &quot. we work 12 hours day,

Seven loans on the back

For his partner, who had a first life as a technician in the oil sector, everything is new. Stéphane. he has already accumulated sixteen years of agricultural experience, between vines, cereals and “we work 12 hours day, new breeding. What changes by becoming an operator? “There is a lot of paperwork. You have to keep two or three hours a week for the administrative, ”he says.

But the couple knows why they work hard when others go to the sun. By becoming their own patterns, they fell in debt. Seven loans in everything for buildings, “we work 12 hours day, machines, stocks, inputs … and goats. “In total, we are at almost 500,000 euros, with loans that range from seven to “we work 12 hours day, new 25 years. . Despite his long journey. Stéphane Mazzer could not benefit from aid such as the young farmer’s allocation, because he never passed his baccalaureate.

This regional aid is a “icing on the cake. including a company that aims for profitability should be able to do without. ” observes Martial Pouzet, installation manager in the Charente Chamber of Agriculture. A financial support which can still go up to “we work 12 hours day, new 45. 000 euros, and which is therefore – for the moment – spent under the nose.

“The first year is really difficult. We will know at the end what it all cost us “. blows the operator” today. we get out, but it’s right: that makes us a minimum wage and a half in two “, adds Sandra Refond. And if the goats “we work 12 hours day, have already been purchased, the barn will not be “we work 12 hours day, new acquired until September.

New installations do not decrease

Martial Pouzet is responsible installation-transmission of the Chamber of Agriculture. He explains that in Charente. the Chamber of Agriculture has between 40. 45 installations per year, a relatively stable figure over the last five years and which is more and more convertible. The installations recorded only concern operators who affect the young farmer’s allocation -. only half of the operators who set up benefit from “we work 12 hours day, new this aid. The majority of cases of installation in Charente are identical resumptions (two thirds of the covers are family. a third of the covers are outside the family).