Inside Milk
Both less dairy and beef cattle in Europe
The European dairy herd is shrinking due to growing efficiency in the sector. At the same time, the beef cattle sector is also showing a decline, because beef prices have been at a (very) low level since March 2020. This is according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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The dairy herd in the European Union is declining due to growing efficiency in the sector. The Ministry of Agriculture in the United States reports that this is the largest decline since 2010. Only Ireland, with a plus of 449.000 animals, is an exception to that rule. The dairy herd has been there for the entire decade a significant increase see.
Now that the European Union is further committed to the climate and environment, including through the Green Deal and other biodiversity strategies, the American Ministry of Agriculture considers the chance that the dairy herd in the European Union will increase again in the relatively short term. As a result, the European milk supply is also lower than in other years.
Also fewer beef cattle
In addition, the beef herd is also showing a decline. This is mainly because beef prices have been very low since March 2020. Due to the corona pandemic, sales to the catering industry have disappeared and this has had a major impact on prices. It is striking that the countries in the middle of the European Union, such as Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria, do show an increase in livestock numbers.