Latest statistics show domestic milk intake by processors and co-ops in October 2024 jumped year on year by 87.2 million litres, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Domestic milk intake in October 2024 was estimated to be 675.8 million litres according to CSO figures released today (Monday, December 9).
But while this may have showed an improved performance compared to the same month in 2023 it failed to hit the same level as domestic milk take in October 2022.
It was down 16.3 million litres or 2.4% in October 2024 when compared to domestic milk intake for the same month in 2022.
According to Stephanie Kelleher, statistician in the agriculture section of the CSO, based on latest figures in general domestic milk intake in 2024 is down year on year.
Kelleher said: “Today’s figures show that the domestic milk intake in October 2024 by milk processors and co-ops rose by 14.8%, compared with the same month in 2023.
“The domestic milk intake for the period January to October 2024 was at 7.66 billion litres – a fall of 2.7% compared with the corresponding value between January and October 2023.”
CSO
According to the latest CSO milk statistics report fat content for October 2024 was 4.93%, up marginally from 4.92% in October 2023.
Protein content was also up from 3.93% to 4.03% in the 12 months to October 2024.
Meanwhile butter production rose from 20,700t in October 2023 to 25,000t in October 2024, which represented an increase of 4,300t.
Eurostat
According to statistical office, Eurostat, the EU produced 160.8 million tonnes of raw milk in 2023.
It also outlined that the average apparent milk yield per cow in the EU “reached 7 791 kg in 2023”.
However the price of milk paid to farmers in the EU for raw milk fell back – on average by 6.5% – after record high prices in 2022.
According to Eurostat during last year the vast majority of raw milk was delivered to dairies, only 11.6 million tonnes were used on farms – either being consumed by the farmer and their families, sold directly to consumers, used as feed or processed directly.
Of the 149.3 million tonnes of milk delivered to dairies, 145.0 million tonnes were cows’ milk, the rest being ewes’ milk, goats’ milk, or buffaloes’ milk.