Breeders of cattle in France have started taking off the blockades at slaughterhouses owned by the top French beef processor, Thursday onwards, thereby relaxing the prices that had increased the problems of the livestock farmers in and around Europe.

The beef producers had alleged Bigard, which slaughters more than 40 percent of the cattle in France, of being inflexible while negotiating with the price and for not considering the increasing expenses for feeding livestock.

Out of the nine abattoirs just a couple continued to remain blocked on Thursday. France's agriculture minister, Bruno Le Maire, has struck a deal between the parties to increase the prices of meat by 5 euro cents (NZ8.77c) for each kilo.

This deal is expected to allow the price to increase gradually toward the gross 60 cent rise demanded by the union.

The conflict brought to spotlight the issues cattle and pig breeders are facing around the European Union, and many of them are just grappling with the anticipation of getting their herd cuts because of competition from the foreign and sky-high feed prices.

The competition from South American producers has put a pressure on the cost and pig herd numbers have reduced in Spain, Europe's second-biggest pork producer.