The average lifetime production of Dutch dairy cows has exceeded 30,000kg for the second time in a row. With an average of 30,543kg of milk, the lifetime production appears to be sustainable at this very high level for the Dutch dairy herd. This has been confirmed following the publication of the annual statistics compiled by the international herdbook organisation CRV.

In 2008 the lifetime production of Dutch cows passed the 30,000-kilogram milestone for the first time in history, after steadily increasing for the past nine successive years. This year shows that it was no coincidence, because the lifetime production is now 30,543kg with 4.38% fat and 3.50% protein.

High yields
The attached appendix shows the average production for Dutch Holstein Friesians – the main dairy breed milked by producers in The Netherlands. Milk production from both black-and-white and red-and-white Holsteins has increased. The black-and-white Holsteins top the list with an average production of 9,787kg of milk at 4.31% fat and 3.49% protein in 361 days.
The figures for lifetime production and actual milk production mean that Dutch dairy cows are among both the longest lasting and highest yielding cows in the world.