More dairy cows in the Netherlands never get to go outside

In 2024, the number of dairy cows permanently kept indoors in the Netherlands increased by 12 percent compared with 2023, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). More than 50,000 additional cows now remain indoors year-round, and over 20 percent of Dutch dairy farms house their cows exclusively indoors.

The total number of dairy cows in the country reached 1.5 million last year. Of these, over 460,000 cows—roughly 31 percent of the national herd—did not spend any time outside. The number of farms keeping cows permanently indoors also rose by 12 percent.

The trend contrasts with efforts to maintain outdoor grazing, known as weidegang, which has been promoted since 2012 under the Convenant Weidegang (Grazing Agreement).

Signed by over 80 organizations, the agreement encourages more frequent grazing and includes financial incentives for milk produced by cows allowed outside. Weidegang also helps reduce ammonia emissions from dairy farming, a measure included in the European Union’s common agricultural policy.

In 2024, the Netherlands had 538 organic dairy farms, accounting for 3 percent of all dairy cows. Organic cows may remain outside year-round, except in cases of severe weather, overly wet conditions, or illness.

Organic cows spent an average of 202 days in the pasture last year, 52 days more than non-organic cows, which averaged 150 days. The number of grazing days for non-organic cows declined by six days compared with 2023, while grazing days for organic cows increased by three.

Day-and-night grazing also remains more common on organic farms. Last year, cows on organic farms spent 39 percent of grazing days outside both day and night, compared with 14 percent on non-organic farms. While day-and-night grazing for non-organic cows slightly increased in 2024, it decreased slightly for organic cows.

Organic cows also spend more hours per day outdoors. During daytime grazing, organic cows averaged nine hours outside, compared with seven hours for non-organic cows. For day-and-night grazing, organic cows averaged 19 hours outdoors, compared with 16 hours for non-organic cows.