Stimulation of outdoor grazing still needed

The outdoor grazing figures, which the Central Statistical Office presents today, underline the importance of keeping the cows out in the meadows. According to the Central Statistical Office, both the percentage of outdoor grazing cows and the number of dairy farms that has its cows graze outdoor dropped in the year 2015.

These figures differ from the deviation from the trend observed by the Sustainable Dairy Chain last year. The joint venture between the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO Nederland) and the Dutch Dairy Association (NZO) reported at the end of last year that 78.3 percent of the dairy farms in the Netherlands applied some form of outdoor grazing in 2015. This percentage was slightly lower in the previous outdoor grazing season (77.8 percent). In view of the number of dairy farms that applied outdoor grazing for the first time this year, this positive trend is expected to continue. The Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture and the Dutch Dairy Association will make known the data for the current outdoor grazing season in December.

The dairy companies stimulate outdoor grazing by introducing an increasing number of products made from meadow milk into the market. They also pay a premium to dairy farmers who put their cows out into the meadows. Various companies have announced an increase of this outdoor grazing premium as from the year 2017.

In connection with adequate payment of this premium, dairy companies annually inventory the number of farms applying some form of outdoor grazing. The guarantee will be carried out by independent inspection authorities.