Domestic beef production has fallen sharply due to a rapidly shrinking supply. It also appears that calves are being sent to the slaughterhouse earlier...
The beef market has been characterised by high prices for some time now. This can be easily explained by looking at the domestic supply of slaughter cattle. Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show that both fewer cows and calves were slaughtered. The supply of veal calves fell the most. As a result, beef production was 15,2% smaller than a year earlier.
Supply of adult cattle
In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 139.400 adult cows (cows, heifers and bulls) were slaughtered. This means that the number of slaughters was 9.000 head, or 6,1% lower than in the first quarter of 2024. The average slaughtered weight was at a similar level to a year earlier, and therefore meat production also fell by 6,1%.
Offer of calves
The supply of veal calves was significantly lower in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. In total, slaughterhouses processed 325.100 calves. In 2024, this was still 399.800 over the same period. This means that the number of slaughters was 18,7% lower.
It seems that due to the tight supply, the calves are also going to the slaughterhouse sooner. According to the CBS figures, the average slaughtered weight was 151,03 kilos. In recent years, the weight was always between 154 and 160 kilos slaughtered weight. As a result, the volume of meat produced fell even further than the number of slaughterings, namely by 22,1%.
The joint beef production decreased by 15,2% due to the low supply of cows and calves. The number of slaughters was 464.600 head. That is 84.000 slaughters less than a year earlier. We previously wrote about the concerns at slaughterhouses on maintaining a critical mass in the sector.
Prices high
The tight supply is causing a high price level for slaughter cattle. Slaughter cows and bulls are being traded for high prices. The market seems to have peaked recently.