DairyCo

EU Cow Numbers

Published 29 June 11

EU Cow Numbers

• The number of dairy cows in the EU 27 in 2010 stood at 23.1 million, a fall of 2.4% from 2009.
• Germany has the highest number of dairy cows in the EU, accounting for 18.1% of the total EU 27 dairy cow population in 2010.
• Malta being the smallest milk producer held just 6,000 dairy cows in 2010.

For more information on EU dairy cows per country click here.

The number of dairy cows in the EU 27 in 2010 stood at 23.1 million a fall of 2.4% (565,000) when compared to 2009. Germany held the most dairy cows out of all EU 27 countries in 2010, 4.2 million, an increase of 12,400 cows when compared to 2009 and now accounts for 18.1% of the total EU 27 dairy cow population. Malta being the smallest milk producer held just 6,000 dairy cows in 2010, 0.03% of the EU 27 dairy cow population. For more information on EU milk deliveries click here.

Figures show that between 2009 and 2010 the country with the largest fall in dairy cows both in percentage and numerical terms was Romania, where numbers fell by 16.1% (229,000 dairy cows) to 1,191,000 dairy cows.

There were only two countries that saw cow numbers rise between 2009 and 2010, these were Germany and Spain. Spain saw the largest increase of 2.1% up by 17,000 dairy cows to 845,000 in 2010.

*provisional

Source: Eurostat