In which province are the most chickens?

In 2017, the Netherlands had a total of 105.184.440 chickens. This is subdivided into 47.950.799 laying hens and 57.233.641 broilers. But in which province do we find the most chickens? Statistics from Statistics Netherlands provide the answer.

If we look at the distribution between conventional and organic, we arrive at 101.873.568 versus 3.310.872 respectively. For the laying hens, the distribution is 3.215.343 organic laying hens and 44.735.456 conventional laying hens. For broilers, the ratio is somewhat more skewed: 95.529 (organic) versus 56.390.339 (usual).

Where are most of the chickens?
Noord-Brabant is at the top of the top 5. The number of chickens in this province is 27.912.392, of which 175.316 are kept organically and 27.737.076 are conventionally kept. In addition, the total number of chickens can be divided into 9.006.986 laying hens and 18.905.406 broilers. In 2016, the number of chickens in this province was 27.743.546, which is 168.846 fewer than in 2017. In 2015, the total number of chickens was even higher, at 28.254.616.

Gelderland is in second place with a total of 17.475.587 chickens. This number came to be subdivided into 1.524.393 organically reared chickens and 15.951.194 conventionally reared chickens. In addition, the figure can be divided into 12.217.208 laying hens and 5.258.379 broilers. In 2016, the number of chickens in this province was 17.655.436, about 200.000 more than last year. It is striking here that the total number of chickens in 2015 was much higher (18.253.826 birds).

The bronze medal is for Limburg. Here the number of chickens amounted to 16.770.395, of which 131.575 were kept organically and 16.638.820 conventionally. In addition, the total can be subdivided into 12.165.536 laying hens and 4.604.859 broilers. The number of chickens in Friesland in 2016 amounted to 16.811.590 chickens, approximately 200.000 more than in 2017. It is striking that the number of chickens in 2015 was much lower, namely 16.028.142 chickens.

The fourth place is for Overijssel, where the number of chickens amounted to 11.540.553. Of that number, 297.293 chickens were kept organically and 11.243.260 conventionally. Also, the figure can be divided into 4.036.673 laying hens and 7.503.880 broilers. The total number of chickens in 2015 amounted to 11.923.662, about 700.000 more than in 2017. Also in 2016 the total number was higher than in 2017 (11.790.545 chickens).

Fifth place is for Friesland with a total of 8.174.500 chickens in 2017, of which 52.719 are kept organically and 8.121.781 are conventional. In addition, the total number can be subdivided into 1.316.318 laying hens and 6.858.182 broilers. In 2015, the number of chickens in this province was 8.945.589 and in 2016 it was 8.296.977. The number of chickens has therefore decreased by about 750.000 in recent years.

Where is the number of broilers highest?
If we only look at the number of broilers, Noord-Brabant is at the top of the list. In this province, the number of broilers in 2017 amounted to 18.905.406. Of these, 3.380 were kept organic and 18.902.026 conventional. In 2015, the number of broilers in Brabant amounted to 18.832.082 and in 2016 that rose to 19.064.241. It is striking that the number of organically reared broilers remained the same between 2015 and 2016 (3.230), but increased in 2017.

In second place is Overijssel, where the number of broilers in 2017 amounted to 7.503.880. Of these, 6.790 were kept organic and 7.497.090 conventional. In this province, the number of broilers in 2015 was 7.698.389, after which this rose to 2016 in 7.848.273. In the end, the number of broilers fell again by approximately 300.000. In this province too, broilers are increasingly kept organically: from 6.600 (2015), to 6.710 (2016) and finally 6.790 (2017).

The third place is for Friesland. In this province, the number of broilers in 2017 amounted to 6.858.182 birds, of which 4.220 were kept organic and 6.853.962 conventional. The number of broilers has decreased slightly in recent years. In 2015, there were still 7.448.788 broilers in this province. In addition, it is also striking that more and more poultry farmers are choosing to keep their broilers organic, because in 2015 and 2016 not 1 broiler chickens were kept organic.

Where are most laying hens?
When we look at the top 3 provinces with the most laying hens, we see that the list shows a number of shifts. At the top of the list is the province of Gelderland, where the number of laying hens in 2017 amounted to 12.217.208. This concerns 1.494.884 organically and 10.722.324 conventionally kept laying hens. In 2015, the number of laying hens in this province amounted to 12.795.859 birds and in 2016 this was 12.305.437 birds, slightly more than in 2017.

The silver medal goes to Limburg, where the number of laying hens in 2017 amounted to 12.165.536 pieces. That number can be subdivided into 127.525 organic and 12.038.011 conventionally kept laying hens. In 2015, the number of laying hens in this province amounted to 11.829.611 pieces and in 2016 there were 12.423.975. A significant increase can therefore be seen between 2015 and 2016, but the number of laying hens decreased somewhat in 2017.

Third place is for the province of North Brabant. In this province, the number of laying hens in 2017 amounted to 9.006.986, with a subdivision of 171.936 organic and 8.835.050 conventionally kept laying hens. In 2015, the number of laying hens in this province was 9.422.534 and in 2016 there were 8.679.305. Here too, the number of laying hens fluctuates, because a decrease can be seen between 2015 and 2016. However, this decline has recovered between 2016 and 2017.

Where does organic score and where is conventional?
If we look at the provinces with the most organically reared chickens, Gelderland is at the top. In this province, the number of organically reared chickens amounted to 1.524.393 chickens. This province was also at the top in previous years: 1.177.750 organically reared chickens in 2015 and 1.463.698 in 2016. These figures also show the number is still growing.

Second place is for the province of Utrecht. Here, the number of organically reared chickens in 2017 amounted to 510.105. That seems little compared to the number 1, but in this province the total number of chickens only comes to 2.993.372 and then it is about 15%. In 2015, the number of organically reared chickens in Utrecht amounted to 504.256 and in 2016 there were 488.261.

In third place is the province of Overijssel, where the number of organically reared chickens in 2017 amounted to 297.293 chickens. In 2015, that number was 240.146 and in 2016 it was 282.055. It also shows here that it is becoming increasingly popular to keep the chickens organic. However, in relation to the total number of chickens (11.540.553) it is still very few.

If we then look at the provinces with the most commonly kept chickens, the province of Noord-Brabant leads the list. The number of commonly kept chickens in this province is 27.373.076. In 2015 there were 28.096.258 and in 2016 there were 27.589.602. It means that fewer and fewer chickens are kept conventionally, while the number of organically reared chickens is increasing.

Second place is for the province of Limburg, where the number of commonly kept chickens in 2017 was 16.638.820. In 2015 there were 15.946.956 and in 2016 there were 16.711.614. This is striking, because the number of conventionally kept chickens in the other provinces is often decreasing. On the other hand, the number of organically reared chickens is also increasing here, which means that organic farmers are not immediately switching to conventional ones.

Gelderland is in third place with 15.951.194 conventionally kept chickens. In this province, the number of conventionally kept chickens has decreased over the years. In 2015, that number was 17.076.076 chickens and in 2016 there were still 16.191.668 commonly kept chickens in this province. As described above, the number of organically reared chickens in this province is growing considerably.

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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