Netherlands: Declining number of calves forces the veal sector to restructure

Published 2024년 10월 22일

Tridge summary

The Dutch veal farming sector is bracing for significant changes due to a forecasted decline in calf supply, driven by a reduction in the dairy herd across North-Western Europe. Rabobank predicts a 30% decrease in dairy cows in the Netherlands by 2030, with similar trends in Belgium, Germany, and Denmark, mainly due to stricter environmental regulations. Additionally, challenges such as animal disease control measures and stricter transport requirements are limiting calf imports. This has already resulted in fewer veal farms and calves, potentially leading to overcapacity in veal processing and heightened competition among slaughterhouses. The sector is expected to undergo restructuring to adapt to these evolving conditions.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The supply of calves for veal farming in the Netherlands will decrease significantly in the coming years, mainly as a result of a reduction in the dairy herd in North-Western Europe. The number of calf places is also decreasing, partly because veal farmers participate in schemes for business termination. This leads to overcapacity in the processing of veal and forces the sector to restructure, predicts Rabobank in a research report on the development of the Dutch veal farming sector. 30 percent fewer cows in the Netherlands in 2030 Rabobank predicts that in 2030 there will be approximately 23 percent fewer dairy cows in North-Western Europe than in 2023. The largest decrease will come from the Netherlands, where the bank assumes a reduction of 30 percent. The number of dairy cows will also decrease significantly in Belgium (-25 percent), Germany (-22 percent) and Denmark (-22 percent). According to the researchers, the decrease in the number of dairy cows is mainly caused by ...

Source: Veeteelt