2 times why ceiling has been reached in herd of dairy cattle

Especially from the manure trade, there were already several signals that there are fewer cows in the field. The current figures from Statistics Netherlands partly support this. For example, the total size of the cattle herd is shrinking and the number of young stock remains more or less stable. There are, however, more dairy cows.

On December 1, CBS counted 4,29 million cattle in the Netherlands. A year earlier, this number was still 4,31 million animals. A minus of just under 0,5 percent. The decline does not extend to dairy cows aged 2 years and older. That herd grew to 1,79 million animals. An increase of 4,5 percent compared to December 2015. 

Due to developments in the field, it can be assumed that the herd has reached the ceiling. On the basis of LU it is still possible to keep slightly more dairy cows at the expense of young stock, but due to the stopper arrangement there are fewer cows anyway. 

Another trend that shows that the herd is at a maximum is the stagnation in the herd of young stock. For example, on December 1, CBS counted 1,32 million head of young cattle intended for dairy farming. Which is just slightly more animals than in April when there were 1,31 million animals. If the number is compared with that of December 2015, a decrease of 3,4 percent has taken place. Fewer young stock means fewer dairy cows in the long run.     

What does it mean for the number of young stock per dairy cow? That is slowly decreasing. In April, for example, there were 0,75 young stock for each dairy cow, and 0,73 in December. A minimum purchase. Since 2008, the average has been 0,79 young cattle per dairy cow.

The date of 1 October 2016 is important for the phosphate reduction plan. On Twitter, Wiebren van Stralen indicates that for the second month in a row the herd decreased in size. 'At least 20.000 LU less than on October 1, 2016'

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