Organic dairy cows in France
Organic dairy cows in France stood at 266,747.2 Head in 2025, according to Eurostat – crop production in EU standard humidity (apro_cpsh1), French agricultural statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Agriculture: annual production and accounts table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2008 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Agriculture: annual production and accounts table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic livestock (certified and in conversion) | |||||||||||
| Dairy cows | 266,747.2 | 283,278 | 292,144 | 301,859 | 289,941 | 271,132 | 251,853 | 227,479 | 198,414 | 154,163 | |
| Suckler cows | 210,315 | 222,922 | 224,859 | 228,132 | 226,900 | 218,421 | 212,138 | 204,035 | 186,830 | 167,622 |
Understanding organic dairy cows in France
Enumerating the individual head count of female bovine animals kept specifically for milk production under certified organic management systems or undergoing conversion, this measure documents dairy herd composition. Included within the tally are animals that have calved and are currently producing milk or are part of the active milking replacement stock, while non-dairy beef suckler cows are excluded. This distinction separates specialized dairy operations from meat-producing bovine enterprises within the broader livestock framework.
Reviewing these counts requires accounting for conversion periods, as herds transitioning from conventional to organic management reclassify over time. Annual comparisons offer a reliable gauge of herd trajectory by smoothing out seasonal calving cycles and routine culling schedules. Users should not compare head counts directly with milk volume outputs, as average yield per animal can vary significantly across management practices and dairy breeds.
Frequently asked questions
- Are male cattle included in this dairy cow inventory?
- No, the series counts strictly female bovine animals kept for milk production.
- How are herds undergoing the transition period handled in the data?
- Both fully certified organic animals and those officially in the conversion phase are combined within the total count.
- Can this head count be used to estimate total organic milk production?
- It serves as a structural indicator of herd capacity, but actual milk output depends on variable yields per animal.