Breeding wild boar in France

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 You would think in a country that is apparently overrun with wild boar, [sanglier], there wouldn't be a requirement for boar breeding farms, but there are, in fact, maybe as many as 400 of them; up-to-date figures are hard to obtain.  


Many people think this is to release even more wild boar into the open environment, but this is rarely the case. What we find is that there are 4 principal purposes for them.

1. Sold to hunting estates

Some are sold alive to private commercial hunting establishments, particularly enclosed hunting parks, which must be securely enclosed, where they can release them into a designated area so that hunters can pursue them. French law specifically controls the origin and health of boar released at commercial hunting establishments.

2. Released into the natural environment

Releases for restocking are also recognised under French regulations, but they require the appropriate authorisation. Animals must meet genetic-purity and health requirements. This is not a general permission for breeders to release surplus animals wherever they choose. This accounts for less than 1% of the total.

3. Slaughtered for human consumption

Some are sent to an abattoir and enter the game-meat supply chain. The regulations explicitly recognise slaughter as a permitted destination, with applicable veterinary inspection and food traceability requirements.

4. Retained for breeding

Some young animals are kept as future breeding stock or transferred to another authorised establishment. Crossbreeds between wild boar and domestic pigs, and animals that fail the prescribed genetic requirements, cannot be retained in these regulated establishments and must be slaughtered.

By far the vast majority, some 80%, are for private hunting in enclosed parks, with maybe 9% for sale as food. The remainder is for personal consumption, whatever that may mean.

As an add-on for the hunting side of this, French law provides a clear answer for commercial hunting establishments operating in enclosed terrain.

Under Article R.424-13 of the French Environmental Code, the operator must keep a register recording animal movements, including:

  • the supplier's name and address;

  • the number and species of animals;

  • the dates of purchase and release;

  • the number of animals killed during each day's hunting.


Hope this answers a few questions, Chris





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