Significantly more calves imported

In the first 6 months of the year, the import of live calves increased considerably. Compared to the same period in 2018, imports are 10% higher this year. This is evident from new figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl).

Up to and including June, 448.000 calves crossed the Dutch border to be fattened here. In the first months of last year, this was 409.000 calves, although this was more than in 2017. The growth in the import of the number of live calves is mainly due to the increased import from Germany and Ireland. In general, the Netherlands exports few live calves to foreign buyers.

Largest suppliers
Germany has been supplying the most calves to the Netherlands for years. In the first half of the year, the country has a share of more than 60% in the total calf import. Imports grew in that period by almost 22.000 calves to approximately 280.000 animals, compared to the first half of 2018.

Imports from Ireland also increased strongly in the first half (+75%). Imports from Belgium, on the other hand, fell from 57.000 calves to 34.000 animals. Incidentally, Belgium is still in third place in the list of most important suppliers to the Netherlands. Denmark and Latvia are in fourth and fifth place.

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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