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Holland is one of the most densly populated countries in the world. Still we find room for a large amount of livestock: over millions of chickens, pigs, cows and sheep. Livestock is an important segment of Dutch agriculture. Apart from making up a great deal of our export, livestock comes with an entire set of rules and problems of its own.
An important aspect is the health of the Dutch livestock herd. A healthy herd is good for the economy and contributes to animal welfare. Thus one condition is a pre-condition for the other: a healthy animal contributes to a healthy business and to the safety of products of animal origin. An outbreak of a contagious animal disease can do a lot of harm to both the industry and the government. Since it is impossible to prevent all animal diseases a lot is being done to control diseases.
In addition to the demands for safe, high quality and varied food consumers are increasingly concerned about the animal welfare aspects of production methods. People want farm animals to have a decent life. The government and the industry are continually improving animal welfare by introducing rules for animal housing, animal transport, reproduction and surgical operations.
