Since the implementation of the phosphate reduction plan in 2017, the Netherlands has seen a significant decrease in its dairy cow population by nine percent to 1.54 million, with young cattle numbers dropping by 19 percent to 0.97 million. The country also experienced a 2.6 percent decrease in dairy farms, totaling 13,900, with the largest decline observed in Limburg province. Additionally, the growing concern over bluetongue has led to a 13 percent reduction in the country's sheep population to 732,000 in 2024, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).