Where do we find most large dairy farmers?

In 2017 there were 482 dairy farms with more than 250 cows. But in which province do we find the most dairy farmers with more than 250 dairy cows? A new top 5, compiled by Statistics Netherlands, provides the answer.

As mentioned above, in 2017 there were 482 dairy farms with more than 250 dairy cows. Together they kept 165.692 dairy cows, which brings the average to 343 cows per farm. In 2016 this average was 339 cows per farm. However, then the number of farms (514) and the number of cows (174.435) both came out higher.

Who heads the list?
At the top of the list is the province of Friesland. In 2017 there were 125 farms with more than 250 dairy cows in this province. These farms jointly kept 43.329 dairy cows. This brings the average per company to 346, which would put the province in sixth place.

The province of North Brabant is in second place. In 2017, 66 dairy farms with more than 250 dairy cows were registered in this province. The dairy farmers in this province together kept 21.884 dairy cows, which brings the average to 331 cows per farm. This would have placed the province in tenth place.

The bronze medal is for the province of Groningen. In 2017, 61 farms with more than 250 dairy cows were counted in this province. Together they kept 20.937 cows, which brings the average to 343 dairy cows per farm. This would have placed the province in seventh place in that top 5.

Just next to the stage
The province of Gelderland is in fourth place. In 2017, 46 dairy farms with more than 250 dairy cows were registered in this province. Together they kept 14.984 dairy cows. This brings the average number of dairy cows per farm to 325. In that top 5, the province would have been in eleventh place.

The province of Drenthe is in fifth, and last place of this top 5. In 2017 there were 39 farms in this province with more than 250 dairy cows. Together they kept 13.288 dairy cows, which brings the average to 340 cows per farm. This would put the province in eighth place.

Average highest in...?
If we only look at the average number of dairy cows per farm, the province of Limburg would be head and shoulders above the rest. Only 14 farms with more than 250 dairy cows (rank 10) are registered in this municipality, but together they keep no fewer than 6.348 cows. That brings the average to 453 cows per farm.

This means that the province of Limburg remains well above number 2: Flevoland. In 2017, 31 dairy farms with more than 2015 dairy cows were registered in this province. Together they kept 11.278 dairy cows, which brings the average to 363 dairy cows per farm.

Provinces with dairy farmers with more than 250 dairy cows (2017)

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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