Weeks of unseasonably high temperatures across much of the country cost poultry farmers 50 million euros (56.1 million dollars) in losses, of four percent of the industry's turnover, Melot told a press conference.

Melot called for quick government action in order to help French producers out of a crisis that began in 2001, and to protect more than 1,000 jobs that are at risk at a dozen sites nationwide.

More than 11,000 mainly elderly people died in France during the heat wave, primarily during the first two weeks of August, when temperatures soared repeatedly to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

TERRA.WIRE