Irish milk production continues to grow

Ireland's dairy farmers produced 1.142 million tonnes of milk in May. Compared to the supply a month earlier (1.106 million tons), the milk supply has increased by approximately 3,3%. Compared to May 2019, the level is 3,4% higher than last year and it records an increase of 8,7% above the 5-year average of 1.051 million tons of milk

Peak has been reached
Every year, Irish milk production reaches its peak in May. It is therefore expected that the milk supply will be lower in the coming months. It remains to be seen whether the milk supply will remain above last year's level.

Previously, Irish dairy farmers were afraid that the ongoing drought would have a significant impact on milk yields. So far this has not been the case and the milk supply is continuing to increase, but the full summer months are still coming and the persistent drought there may affect the milk supply. 

Milk price below 30 cents
The Irish milk price fell through the 30 cents per liter limit in May, the milk price was equal to 29,88 cents per liter. According to ICMSA dairy committee chairman Ger Quain, all cooperatives should pay a minimum of 30 cents per liter for milk delivered in June. Quain argues for this because the dairy markets rose again in June and statistics indicate improved market returns.

Irritation among dairy farmers who supply lower-paying milk processors is increasing. Quain therefore emphasizes to the managers of these milk processors to immediately adjust the milk price to the market return. The dairy farmers themselves also indicate that they want to receive their milk price in full now and not as a bonus later in the year.

Research into milking
In recent years, research has been underway in Ireland's Teagasc Moore Park into the differences in milk production when milking once or twice a day. This research shows that milking cows once a day reduces milk production by as much as 1% and reduces milk components by 2%.

To date, the herd of cows milked once a day has produced 2.754 liters of milk, while the cows milked twice a day produce about 3.525 liters of milk. Milking once a day has the advantage that the cows have an increased body condition score. At the time of measurement, the cows that were milked once a day had an average score of 1, while the cows that were milked 1 times a day achieved an average score of 3,4.