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Cows in the meadow more and more, but for less time
An increasing proportion of dairy cows are sent to pasture. In 2016 this was still 65%, in 2020 this has increased to 74%. The cows stayed in the pasture for less time. This is apparent from the annual Agricultural Census (the combined statement).
As in 2019, according to the CBS figures last year in the Netherlands there was no grazing on 18% of the dairy farms. This concerns 26% of the dairy cows. The number of cows that are not grazed has decreased. In 2019 it was slightly higher (27%) and in 2016 35% of the cows were never in the meadow. 74% of dairy cows were sent to pasture in 2020. A small increase compared to 2019 (73%) and a larger difference from 2016 when 65% of the cows were grazing.
Limited grazing in almost half of dairy cattle
Cows are therefore more often in the meadow, but they stay there for a shorter period of time. Almost half of all cows (with and without grazing) have limited grazing; they spend between 720 and 1440 hours a year in the meadow. The percentage of cows with limited grazing has increased compared to 2016, from 35% to 48%. The percentage that spends less than 720 hours per year in the meadow has decreased slightly since 2016 (from 4% to 3%). The percentage of cows entering the pasture between 1440 and 2160 hours has remained the same at 13%.
The percentage of animals that spend more hours in the meadow has actually shrunk. The percentage of dairy cattle that are left in the meadow for 2280 hours or more per year has decreased from 8% in 2016 to 6% in 2020. There is also a lower percentage of cows with grazing hours of 2160 to 2280 hours per year (5% in 2016, 4% in 2020).
Many North Holland cows in the meadow
De cnumbers show that most cows are grazing in the meadow in North Holland (94%). This percentage is also at or above 90% in Utrecht and South Holland. In Flevoland the cows go out to pasture the least (40%).
Less grazing on larger farms
The figures show that the larger the farms, the less often the cows are out in the fields. Farms with 100 livestock units (LU) or less graze on average the most. In North Holland, for example, 98% of the cows on farms of that size are grazed. Nationally, 50% of cows on farms up to 93 LU are grazed and 50% from 100 to 88 LU. Of animals on farms with 100 to 200 LU, 77% is in the meadow and for cows at dairy farmers with 200 LU or more, this is 56%. Here, too, the regional differences are large. In North Holland, a total of 93% is still grazed on the largest farms, while in Flevoland this is 32% and in Limburg 27%.
Linda van Eekeres
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