How many cows are too many, asks the Dutch government?

Around the corner from the office of Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ prime minister, lies the Koediefstraat, or “cow-thief street”. Many Dutch farmers might find the name appropriate: by their lights, the government wants to rustle their cattle. On June 10th it unveiled proposed limits to nitrogen pollution, such as ammonia from fertiliser and manure, to abide by eu biodiversity rules. Farms next to nature reserves must cut nitrogen output by 70%. About 30% of the country’s cows and pigs will have to go, along with a big share of cattle and dairy farms.