At a time when, on account of a relative shortage of meat, our attention is drawn to the meat problems, the author has considered it useful to search objectively for efforts and concessions that might bring a solution. The meat producer wishes to enhance the prices, but that may discourage the consumer. The expenses that encumber the meat processing and distribution seem exhorbitant. The failure of the experiment with short marketing channels should be explained and the economic « recovery » which would be the result of the reform of the marketing channels should be put into figures. In the present production hypothesis, the breeder remain exposed to technical, economic and social constraints more important ' than those of corn producers, although their income is lower. Does this mean that the breeding activity will progressively disappear ? The fact that certain areas remain unsuitable for cultivation, together with the power of a certain tradition, will delay this disappearing. But it is no doubt inevitable, unless an evolution — or even a revolution — of the regular techniques and changes of the marketing conditions brings a higher productivity and a better security that can be compared with those of the corn sector.
