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) 2024 December 3,562
Cattle (total) 2025 April* 3,552
Young cattle for milk (total) 2024 December 944
Young cattle for milk (total) 2025 April* 907
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2024 December 415
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2025 April* 401
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2024 December 51
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2025 April* 39
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2024 December 397
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2025 April* 388
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2024 December 10
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2025 April* 8
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2024 December 72
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2025 April* 70
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2024 December 1,527
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2025 April* 1,529
Veal calves (total) 2024 December 865
Veal calves (total) 2025 April* 867
Calves for rosé meat (< 1 year) 2024 December 312
Calves for rosé meat (< 1 year) 2025 April* 316
Calves for white meat (< 1 year) 2024 December 553
Calves for white meat (< 1 year) 2025 April* 551
Young cattle for meat (total) 2024 December 168
Young cattle for meat (total) 2025 April* 187
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2024 December 35
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2025 April* 44
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2024 December 37
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2025 April* 44
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2024 December 38
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2025 April* 41
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2024 December 33
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2025 April* 32
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2024 December 25
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2025 April* 27
Other cattle (total) 2024 December 43
Other cattle (total) 2025 April* 47
Bulls (>= 2 years) (total) 2024 December 13
Bulls (>= 2 years) (total) 2025 April* 14
Sheep (total) 2024 December 607
Sheep (total) 2025 April* 669
Sheep 0 to 7 months 2024 December 94
Sheep 0 to 7 months 2025 April* 203
Sheep for milking 7 months to 1 year 2024 December 3
Sheep for milking 7 months to 1 year 2025 April* 1
Sheep for milking older than 1 year 2024 December 10
Sheep for milking older than 1 year 2025 April* 10
Other sheep 7 months to 1 year 2024 December 161
Other sheep 7 months to 1 year 2025 April* 85
Other sheep older than 1 year 2024 December 317
Other sheep older than 1 year 2025 April* 352
Rams >= 7 months 2024 December 22
Rams >= 7 months 2025 April* 19
Goats (total) 2024 December 552
Goats (total) 2025 April* 629
Goats 0 to 7 months 2024 December 31
Goats 0 to 7 months 2025 April* 134
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2024 December 94
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2025 April* 28
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2024 December 403
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2025 April* 445
Other goats 7 months to 1 year 2024 December 2
Other goats 7 months to 1 year 2025 April* 1
Other goats 1 year or older 2024 December 11
Other goats 1 year or older 2025 April* 10
Male goats 7 months or older 2024 December 11
Male goats 7 months or older 2025 April* 10
Chickens (total) 2024 December 82,340
Chickens (total) 2025 April* 81,651
Laying hens (total) 2024 December 37,570
Laying hens (total) 2025 April* 38,904
Laying hens for rearing 2024 December 6,861
Laying hens for rearing 2025 April* 8,754
Laying hens for production (< 20 months) 2024 December 26,387
Laying hens for production (< 20 months) 2025 April* 24,541
Laying hens for production (>=20 months) 2024 December 4,322
Laying hens for production (>=20 months) 2025 April* 5,609
Breeding stock for laying hens (total) 2024 December 1,829
Breeding stock for laying hens (total) 2025 April* 1,585
Breeding stock for laying hens, rearing 2024 December 650
Breeding stock for laying hens, rearing 2025 April* 313
Breeding stock for laying hens prod. 2024 December 1,179
Breeding stock for laying hens prod. 2025 April* 1,272
Broilers 2024 December 36,373
Broilers 2025 April* 35,141
Breeding stock for broilers (total) 2024 December 6,568
Breeding stock for broilers (total) 2025 April* 6,022
Breeding stock for broilers, rearing 2024 December 2,514
Breeding stock for broilers, rearing 2025 April* 2,364
Breeding stock for broilers; production 2024 December 4,054
Breeding stock for broilers; production 2025 April* 3,657
Ducks for slaughter 2024 December 363
Ducks for slaughter 2025 April* 378
Turkeys 2024 December 370
Turkeys 2025 April* 265
Pigs (total) 2024 December 10,192
Pigs (total) 2025 April* 9,861
Piglets < 20 kg, still with the sow 2024 December 1,749
Piglets < 20 kg, still with the sow 2025 April* 1,821
Young pigs < 50 kg 2024 December 4,276
Young pigs < 50 kg 2025 April* 4,133
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


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:
The 2025 figures are provisional; the other figures are final.

Changes as of October 10, 2025:
The provisional figures for the April 2025 have been updated. The provisional figures for young sheep, young goats, and poultry have been added.

When will new figures be available?
The provisional figures for April will be published in September and will be updated in October and February.
The provisional figures for December will be published in February of the following year.
The final figures for April and December will be published in May of the following 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).