In 2023, calf imports to the Netherlands are projected to decline by 10% to 775,000 due to the closure of calf farms, with a reported 9.8% reduction in calves and a 13.7% reduction in calf farms. By 2030, Rabobank forecasts a 23% reduction in the dairy herd in North-West Europe, including a 30% decrease in the Netherlands. This scarcity of calves is prompting structural changes in veal farming, leading to fewer but larger farms. However, expansion is limited by permits and animal welfare regulations, increasing competition for calves and impacting farmers differently based on their contract status.