Results published by the Irish Dairy Board (IDB) showed that for the first time since June 2012 the performance of the Irish dairy sector has decreased on the previous month.

The IDB yesterday released its monthly Production Price Index (PPI). The index showed a return value of 131, which implies 31.1 per cent increase in market returns when compared to 2010.

This is the first time the monthly indicator has shown a decrease in 16 months however the figure remains much higher than the 91.8 figure at that time in June 2012.

The PPI is a rolling monthly indicator of market returns on primary dairy products sold by the IDB, typically butter, cheese, whole milk powder and protein products, relative to comparable returns generated in the base year of 2010.

Pictured: Friesian weanling heifers. Photo O’Gorman Photography