February back but March milk up

Most of the milk processors report total February milk supplies were back around 5% compared with February last year.

However, milk supplies for late February and the first week of March are now up compared with the same week last year.

Dairygold and Glanbia report late February and early March supplies are up between 1% and 4%. The west Cork co-ops report early March supply up between 3% and 5%.

It seems a slight delay in calving date on farms slowed February milk supplies. However, better fertility and compact calving means that late February early March milk supplies are now driving ahead of March 2016 milk supplies.

Supply figures

In the Republic, 2016 CSO figures show total February supply last year was 287m litres, while March total supply was 594m litres.

So if supply was back 5% of February it would be down 14m litres but it will not be that much because Dairygold and Glanbia February supplies were not far off 2016 supplies. If March is up 5%, nationally Ireland will be up 30m litres.

Arrabawn reports February milk supplies back about 6%. Similarly, Aurivo also reports February milk supplies back 5%, as does Lakeland. Glanbia’s February supply was slower to start but finished on par with last year.

Dairygold was back 1.4%, while Kerry was back 18%. While the Kerry percentage sounds very significant, it is a large percentage of a small volume. The west Cork co-ops were back between 3% and 5% for February.