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 December 3,739
Cattle (total) 2024 April* 3,693
Young cattle for milk (total) 2023 December 1,000
Young cattle for milk (total) 2024 April* 967
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2023 December 442
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, female 2024 April* 430
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2023 December 49
Young cattle for milk, < 1 year, male 2024 April* 44
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2023 December 423
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, female 2024 April* 414
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2023 December 11
Young cattle for milk, 1-2 years, male 2024 April* 9
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2023 December 76
Young cattle for milk, >= 2 years, fem. 2024 April* 70
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2023 December 1,552
Dairy cows (>= 2 years) 2024 April* 1,544
Veal calves (total) 2023 December 957
Veal calves (total) 2024 April* 925
Calves for rosé meat (< 1 year) 2023 December 331
Calves for rosé meat (< 1 year) 2024 April* 324
Calves for white meat (< 1 year) 2023 December 626
Calves for white meat (< 1 year) 2024 April* 601
Young cattle for meat (total) 2023 December 171
Young cattle for meat (total) 2024 April* 192
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2023 December 32
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, female 2024 April* 42
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2023 December 38
Young cattle for meat < 1 year, male 2024 April* 43
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2023 December 39
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, female 2024 April* 43
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2023 December 38
Young cattle for meat 1-2 years, male 2024 April* 36
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2023 December 25
Young cattle for meat >= 2 years, female 2024 April* 27
Other cattle (total) 2023 December 45
Other cattle (total) 2024 April* 51
Bulls (>= 2 years) (total) 2023 December 13
Bulls (>= 2 years) (total) 2024 April* 15
Sheep (total) 2023 December 665
Sheep (total) 2024 April* 733
Sheep 0 to 7 months 2023 December 90
Sheep 0 to 7 months 2024 April* 237
Sheep for milking 7 months to 1 year 2023 December 3
Sheep for milking 7 months to 1 year 2024 April* 1
Sheep for milking older than 1 year 2023 December 12
Sheep for milking older than 1 year 2024 April* 11
Other sheep 7 months to 1 year 2023 December 190
Other sheep 7 months to 1 year 2024 April* 76
Other sheep older than 1 year 2023 December 346
Other sheep older than 1 year 2024 April* 386
Rams >= 7 months 2023 December 25
Rams >= 7 months 2024 April* 20
Goats (total) 2023 December 566
Goats (total) 2024 April* 631
Goats 0 to 7 months 2023 December 31
Goats 0 to 7 months 2024 April* 133
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2023 December 95
Dairy goats 7 months to 1 year 2024 April* 29
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2023 December 417
Dairy goats 1 year or older 2024 April* 446
Other goats 7 months to 1 year 2023 December 2
Other goats 7 months to 1 year 2024 April* 1
Other goats 1 year or older 2023 December 11
Other goats 1 year or older 2024 April* 11
Male goats 7 months or older 2023 December 11
Male goats 7 months or older 2024 April* 10
Chickens (total) 2023 December 82,036
Chickens (total) 2024 April* 83,285
Laying hens (total) 2023 December 39,991
Laying hens (total) 2024 April* 39,332
Laying hens for rearing 2023 December 8,268
Laying hens for rearing 2024 April* 8,892
Laying hens for production (< 20 months) 2023 December 27,100
Laying hens for production (< 20 months) 2024 April* 25,461
Laying hens for production (>=20 months) 2023 December 4,623
Laying hens for production (>=20 months) 2024 April* 4,979
Breeding stock for laying hens (total) 2023 December 1,522
Breeding stock for laying hens (total) 2024 April* 1,534
Breeding stock for laying hens, rearing 2023 December 314
Breeding stock for laying hens, rearing 2024 April* 364
Breeding stock for laying hens prod. 2023 December 1,207
Breeding stock for laying hens prod. 2024 April* 1,170
Broilers 2023 December 33,717
Broilers 2024 April* 35,660
Breeding stock for broilers (total) 2023 December 6,807
Breeding stock for broilers (total) 2024 April* 6,759
Breeding stock for broilers, rearing 2023 December 2,717
Breeding stock for broilers, rearing 2024 April* 2,608
Breeding stock for broilers; production 2023 December 4,090
Breeding stock for broilers; production 2024 April* 4,150
Ducks for slaughter 2023 December 524
Ducks for slaughter 2024 April* 378
Turkeys 2023 December 512
Turkeys 2024 April* 493
Pigs (total) 2023 December 10,375
Pigs (total) 2024 April* 10,477
Piglets < 20 kg, still with the sow 2023 December 1,862
Piglets < 20 kg, still with the sow 2024 April* 1,917
Young pigs < 50 kg 2023 December 4,089
Young pigs < 50 kg 2024 April* 4,392
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:
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 October 11, 2024:
The provisional figures for April 2024 have been updated.

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).