Where are most small dairy farms located?

In 2017 there were 1.253 dairy farms in the Netherlands with 1 to 20 dairy cows. In total they kept 9.162 cows, which means an average of 7 cows per farm. But in which province do we find the most small dairy farms? That gives a new top 5 Boerenbusiness answer to.

Recently it turned out from a top 5 that most large dairy farms can be found in the province of Friesland. In 2017 there were about 125 dairy farms in this province with more than 250 dairy cows. However, which province has the most farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows?

Who is on top?
Most dairy farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows can be found in the province of Gelderland. In 2017, this province had 296 dairy farms with a maximum of 20 cows. In total, the dairy farmers in this province kept 2.234 cows, which means an average of 7,5 dairy cows per farm. It is striking that this province in the list with most large dairy farms is also fairly high, namely in fourth place.

In second place is the province of Overijssel. In 2017, about 236 dairy farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows were registered in this province. Together they kept 1.879 cows, which amounts to an average of 7,9 cows per farm. This province is in sixth place in the list of most large dairy farms: 35 farms with more than 250 cows.

The province of North Brabant is in third place. In 2017, 170 dairy farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows were counted in this province. Together they kept 1.032 cows, which means an average of 6 cows per farm. In the list of large dairy farms, this province is in second place.

Who falls off the podium?
The province with the most large dairy farms ends in this top 5 just off the podium. In 2017, the province of Friesland had 116 dairy farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows. Together these dairy farmers kept 735 cows, which means an average of 6,3 cows per farm.

The province of South Holland is in fifth place. In 2017, this province had 104 dairy farms with 1 to 20 dairy cows. The dairy farmers in this category together kept 783 cows, which comes down to an average of 7,5 cows per farm. If we look at the number of large dairy farmers in this province, then state of South Holland in eighth place.

Average number of cows per farm?
If we would only look at the average number of cows per farm, we can conclude that the smallest dairy farms can be found in the province of Flevoland. In this province there are only 4 farms that keep 1 to 20 cows, but the average on these farms is 5,7. That is a lot lower than in the other provinces. 

The province of North Brabant would come in second place. It is also striking that the province of Zeeland has the largest farms in the size class of 1 to 20 dairy cows. This province has an average of 9 companies, far above the rest.

* Figures are from Statistics Netherlands.

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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