July milk output still below profile

MILK PRODUCTION in July was fourth highest on record but still fell below the Charles Holt / FARMERS WEEKLY profile for the fourth consecutive month.

Dairy cows produced 1.2bn litres of milk last month – 31m litres less than in July 2003 but only 11m litres below the previous record reached in 1999.

Butterfat content rose from 3.81% in June to 3.87%, bringing the butterfat-adjusted figure to within 12.7m litres of the profile.

Cumulatively, the UK has now produced 4.92bn litres at 3.87% butterfat. That is 213m litres less than by July last season but with a 0.04% higher butterfat content.

“We‘re still below quota but cows are milking pretty well and there‘s likely to be plenty of good quality silage this year,” said Charles Holt of the Farm Consultancy Group.

“And with lower feed prices there‘s nothing to hold back milk production this winter.”

Even so, the country was still 159m litres below profile for the year so far.

“We‘ve got a lot to pull back from those first three months when we were hugely under profile.”

Quota prices had increased slightly, to 16-17p/litre and over for higher butterfat parcels for sale, said Mr Holt.

Used quota was expensive at 8.5-9.5/litre and leasing was also firmer at 8.75-9p/litre.

“There‘s a steady trade and although I think we‘ll see a reasonable amount done at these prices I don‘t see any particular reason for a great increase.”