Dairy farms leave cows out in the meadow more often

The percentage of dairy farms that let dairy cows graze increased again in 2016. This is despite the increase in scale in agriculture. Statistics Netherlands will announce this on Friday 6 October.

This is an increase of 0,9%. In 2015, 75,6% of dairy farms left their cows in the meadow. That number rose to 2016% in 76,5. The number of dairy cows in the meadow, at 65%, remained the same as in 2015.

Increase in livestock
The increase in the number of farms that left the cows in the meadow was accompanied by an increase in the livestock. Livestock increased by 1 animals between April 2015, 1 and April 2016, 123.000. It can be concluded from this that the farms that already applied grazing have continued to do so.

However, the number of cows has already decreased again (partly due to the phosphate reduction plan). In the agricultural census of 2017, 51.000 fewer dairy cows were counted. 

More cows, more often in the meadow
Research by Statistics Netherlands shows that the cows are more often kept in the barn all year round, when more dairy cows are kept. What is striking, however, is that this is more difficult to apply to companies that are getting bigger and bigger. 

However, that did not stop dairy farmers with more than 100 cows from sending their cows to pasture. That percentage has increased in 1 year from 61% (2015) to 64% (2016). 

However, the above did not ensure that the share of dairy cattle that can be found in the pasture has grown. In both 2016 and 2015, 65% of the dairy cows were out on pasture for part of the year. Previously, that share was much higher, namely 69% in 2014 and no less than 80% in 2006.

Cows often in stables in Flevoland
The CBS survey shows that the cows in the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Limburg, Zeeland and Flevoland are the least likely to be outside. This can be explained logically, because these farms are often larger and/or have less grassland available per cow.

In most provinces, except Groningen and Limburg, the percentage of grazing has increased slightly. The percentage of meadow grazing is highest in North Holland and South Holland, ie above 90%. 

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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