The number of sheep in the Netherlands fell sharply in 2023, according to preliminary data from the Netherlands Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Dutch portal Nieuwe Oogst reported on February 21.
Herd size decreased by more than 61,000 head compared to the previous year, or 8.5%. The main reason for the decline is the high mortality rate due to the type 3 bluetongue outbreak.
Last year the number of sheep in the Netherlands was 662,300. In 2022, it amounted to 723,600 animals. The decrease is almost 9%. In addition to bluetongue, one of the possible reasons for the decline in sheep numbers, according to industry experts, is the fact that sheep farmers are abandoning their farms due to the widespread problem of wolf attacks on sheep. flocks.
However, according to CBS, bluetongue outbreaks are the main cause. The greatest decrease was recorded in the category of lambs from seven months to one year (-15.6%). Sheep over one year old appear to be more resistant to bluetongue virus. There, the number of animals decreased by 6.8%.
It is observed that bluetongue mainly affects the number of sheep. Although the goat population also decreased by 9,000 animals (-1.6%), this decrease corresponds to that of the previous year.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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