The Netherlands

Year of entry to EU: Founding Member
Political system: Constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Amsterdam
Total area: 41 864 km²
Population: 16.2 million

Currency: Euro

Typical Dutch farm

In Holland there are lots of differences in farms. The differences are mainly there because of differences in soil. So on the good soil parts there arable farms. (Flevoland and Groningen) on the very sandy soils we find pig farms (Brabant) and in all other provinces you find a mix of these farms. In the central part of Holland we find the mixed farms with Chicken, sheep and dairy cows. Mainly not that big amount of animals. Of course ther are a lot of specialised dairy farms. On average a farm has about 50 cows with an average production of 7800 kg milk! Unfortenately because of EU rules the amount of diary farms is decreasing. The number of cows per farm is increasing because of that development.

In Holland we have long summers, at least there is a change that you can harvest enough food for the winter period. The winters are not that cold, so stables are not isolated. The newest stables will be isolated! Because of the EU rules, farmers have to decide to keep the cows in doors! Now pasturing enymore!

Dairy cattle in The Netherlands

In Holland the diary farmers mainly work with Holstein Friesian cows. This Holstein Friesian is mostly cross material between Fries Holstein (An old ancient race) and the bigger HF cows.
About 70% of the stables is loose-stall stables. At the moment the are renovated, because of the fact that the size of cows is growing. They get bigger and bigger. The first stables were build in 1978 so most of the stables are about 30 years old.

Next to the HF cows we have the red MRY cows. It has got his name because it has arised between the three main big rivers. The Rijn, the Maas and the IJssel! These cows are double purposed as well meat as milk productions. In some stables you can find the original race, but most of these cows are also crossed with Red Holstein Friesian!

For hobby lots of farmers have meet cows such as Belgian Blue, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Limousin, the better red coloured cows!

General figures

In total in Holland there are 1.471.000 Diary cows
The amount of diary farms is 24.322 (in 1996 it was 36258 farms!)

General production
HF
8200 kg milk average
4,42% Fat
3,56% Protein
550 kg average weight

MRY
7800 kg milk average
4,52% fat
3,57% protein
650 kg average weight

Page updated 29.5.2006