Despite the large number of cow slaughterings in the Netherlands due to phosphorous limits, there was just a 0.65% reduction in collection volumes for May 2017, compared with the same month last year. This exceeds the three-year average for May by 6.38%.

A total of 1.26 million tonnes of milk were collected in May. Total milk collections for the Netherlands to date are about 0.53% behind the same point last year. The fat content of the milk has also fallen from 4.35% last May to 4.29% this year.

French supply drops

Full production figures for April just published in France show a 1% drop on the same month last year. While French milk supply was significantly down at the start of this year, it appeared to catch up in March, when it was sown only 0.8% year-on-year.

The latest trend is for a return to contraction, with early weekly surveys for May and early June showing drops of between 2% and 4% compared with the same weeks last year.

Milk cheque boost

Meanwhile, in Ireland dairy farmers are set to receive an extra €80m in their May milk cheque, compared with the same month last year, driven by higher production and higher milk prices.

CSO statistics showed monthly domestic milk intake was estimated at 918m litres. This year, farmers have delivered an additional 6% to 8%.

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Environment, welfare and perception top the agenda in the Netherlands