How does government aid influence the economic performance of agricultural holdings and subsequently production system dynamics and employment in the dairy industry ? To outline an answer to this question and back up hypotheses from monographic observations for Mayenne (France), OTEX milk-specific agricultural accounting information network cate (RICA 1995) are processed with holdings ranked by economic size, level of support per labour unit and degree of independence of the production system. Analysis of production system performances combined with simple simulations of possible orientations for specialist dairy structures indicate potential alternatives to the present model of concentration and of intensification through greater reliance on intermediate consumption, alternatives which are far preferable in terms of income and employment.
