Livestock on agricultural holdings: reference date 1 April and 1 December

Livestock on agricultural holdings: reference date 1 April and 1 December

Farm animals Periods Livestock (x 1000)
Cattle (total) 2023 April* 3,752
Cattle (total) 2023 December* 3,723
Young cattle for milk (total) 2023 April* 991
Young cattle for milk (total) 2023 December* 996
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2023 April* 455
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2023 December* 441
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2023 April* 41
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2023 December* 49
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2023 April* 416
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2023 December* 421
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2023 April* 9
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2023 December* 11
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2023 April* 70
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2023 December* 75
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2023 April* 1,577
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2023 December* 1,546
Young cattle for meat (total) 2023 April* 190
Young cattle for meat (total) 2023 December* 170
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2023 April* 39
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2023 December* 32
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2023 April* 44
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2023 December* 38
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2023 April* 42
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2023 December* 39
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2023 April* 40
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2023 December* 37
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2023 April* 25
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2023 December* 24
Other cattle (total) 2023 April* 52
Other cattle (total) 2023 December* 45
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2023 April* 32
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2023 December* 94
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2023 April* 458
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2023 December* 413
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains data on the number of cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks for slaughter and pigs on Dutch agricultural holdings. The number of animals is determined on April 1st and December1st .
The number of animals can differ from those in the tables of the agricultural census (see ‘links to relevant tables and relevant articles).
In the agricultural census the number of veal calves, fattening pigs, chicken and turkey are, from 2018 onwards, adjusted in the case of temporary breaks in the production cycle (e.g. sanitary cleaning).
The agricultural census is a structural survey, in which adjustment for temporary breaks in the production cycle is a.o. relevant for the calculation of the economic size of the holding, and its farm type.
In the livestock surveys the number of animals on the reference day is relevant, therefore no adjustment for temporary breaks in the production cycle are made.

Data available from: 1 April 2018.

Status of the figures:
New figures on the number of animals are first published as 'provisional' and when more complete figures of the Agricultural Census become available, they are adjusted accordingly from provisional to 'definitive'.

Changes as of February 15, 2024:
The provisional figures for April have been updated and December 2023 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
The provisional figures of April are published in September. The provisional figures of December are published in February of the subsequent year. The definite figures of April are published in May of the subsequent year and the definite figures of December are published in September of the subsequent year.

Description topics

Livestock
Total livestock includes the following livestock categories observed in the agricultural census: - cattle; - sheep and goats; - fattening pigs and breeding pigs (including piglets); - poultry (excluding other poultry: geese, pheasants, ostriches, guinea fowls and such).