The preliminary figures of the agricultural census 2017 by Statistics Netherlands show that the number of dairy cows has decreased by 3%, the number of calves by 9%. Remarkable is the growth in the number of goats and sheep of 6% and 2% respectively compared to a year ago. The number of pigs and chickens hardly grew compared to 2016.
The total number of cattle in the Netherlands decreased by approximately 155.000 to 4 million animals. That is 4% less than a year earlier. This is 6% more than five years ago.
Especially considerably less young stock
On April 1, the Netherlands had 1,69 million dairy cows. That is 51.000 less than a year earlier, representing a decrease of 3%. As a result of the phosphate reduction plan, dairy farmers have made advances, 9% less than a year earlier.
Steady growth of number of goats
The number of goats in the Netherlands continues to grow steadily. Since 2014, the growth has increased considerably. On April 1, CBS counted 6% more goats than a year earlier. That is a growth from 31.500 to more than 531.000 animals. In particular, the number of young dairy goats (younger than one year old) grew rapidly, by 27%. There are now 34 percent more goats than in the agricultural census five years ago.
Hardly any growth in the number of pigs and chickens
The number of pigs and chickens both grew by half a percent. The Netherlands still has almost 2% more pigs than in 2012. On April 1, there were 12 million pigs in the Netherlands.
The number of chickens is also barely growing, 105 million in April. The number of young laying hens did increase last year, by 21 percent. Also, there are now 10% more chickens than five years earlier, an increase of 10 million animals.
The number of pigs and chickens are limited with production rights.
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