Manure production by livestock in the Netherlands, 1980-2001
As a result of various statutory arrangements, the trend for manure production by Dutch livestock has been downward since 1986. Three-quarters of the manure is produced by cattle.
| 1980 | 1986 | 1990 | 1995 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |||
| billion kg | ||||||||||
| Total manure production | 85.7 | 94.2 | 86.0 | 81.8 | 76.1 | 74.7 | 74.8 | 74.2 | ||
| Liquid manure | 83.9 | 93.3 | 84.9 | 79.2 | 73.2 | 71.6 | 71.6 | 71.0 | ||
| of which from | ||||||||||
| cattle | 68.5 | 71.7 | 65.4 | 60.7 | 56.2 | 55.0 | 55.6 | 56.0 | ||
| among which | in pasture | 32.5 | 36.7 | 26.2 | 19.4 | 18.0 | 17.6 | 16.9 | 17.0 | |
| pigs | 14.6 | 19.1 | 16.4 | 16.1 | 15.2 | 14.7 | 14.1 | 13.4 | ||
| poultry | . | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | ||
| other 1) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | ||
| Solid manure | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.2 | ||
| of which from | ||||||||||
| cattle | . | . | . | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||
| poultry | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | ||
| other 2) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||
| Source: CBS. | CBS/EDC/Sep03/0104 | |||||||||
| 1) Pasture manure from sheep. 2) Sheep, goats, rabbits and animals kept for their fur. | ||||||||||
Total manure production fell further in 2001
Total agricultural manure production increased sharply until the mid-1980s. Total manure production in 1986 was 39% higher than in 1970. Manure production has fallen by 21% since 1986. Shrinkage of the dairy livestock herd as a result of the Super Levy has caused a drop of 18% for cattle over the last ten years.
The policy developments that play a role in the fall in manure production are discussed elsewhere in the Environment and Nature Data Compendium.
Contributions of the various animals to manure production
Three-quarters of the manure is produced by cattle. The share of manure from pigs (20%) and poultry (3%) is significantly lower. However, since pig and poultry farming are highly intensive, they make a significant contribution to the manure surplus.
Super Levy
With the implementation of the Super Levy decree in 1984, the EU imposed a maximum for milk production for all its members, the milk quota. Because average milk production per cow is increasing annually, the number of dairy cows has to fall if the Netherlands does not want to produce too much milk. Farmers have to pay a levy for every excess litre of milk produced.
References
- CBS (2003). Statline. Productie van dierlijke mest. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Nitrogen and phosphate production by all livestock and by agricultural area in the Netherlands, 2001
- Nitrogen and phosphate in manure and fertiliser in the Netherlands, 1980-2001
- Manure use per municipality in the Netherlands, 2000
- Nutrient surpluses in agriculture in the Netherlands, 1970-2000
- Guide to Environmental theme of Eutrophication
- Number of animals in livestock farming in the Netherlands, 1980-2002
- Guide to 'Measures for agriculture and horticulture, and eutrophication' section
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More information about the production of manure can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
