The technical and economic results of a constant group of 74 farms with suckling cattle of the Charolais breed were analysed for 6 years (2000-2005); the results were used to study the effects of the 2003 drought on the production systems and the economics of these farms. The drought had no effect on the calf productivity nor on that of the amount of meat (kg meat produced per L.U.) ; the production systems, identified by the type of male animals marketed, remained relatively unchanged : the 2003 cattle production was not significantly different from that of the other years. The feeding charges did increase by over 30%, hence a decrease of the gross margin for cattle in 2003. The specific subsidies allocated to alleviate the effects of the drought ('aides calamité') did compensate the extra expenses incurred, but were not sufficient to cover the diminution of the yields and thus of the margins of the cash crops. Overall, there was a decrease by 8% in the income per worker. This figure however conceals a certain variation among incomes; aiming at self-sufficiency for feeding at the level of the individual farm appears to be positive for the maintenance of income in a dry year.