Milk supplies in a number of co-ops are down by as much as 10%, with this drop in milk volume largely due to challenging weather conditions.
The challenging spring has placed significant pressure on dairy farms from both a feed and milk output perspective.
Reduced access to grass and dwindling silage supplies means that on many farms, the milk volume sold out the farm gate is down on previous years.
Many farms are now dealing with the issue of protein percentage dropping in the milk, which can also have significant financial implications.
With the majority of dairy farms having to keep cows in the shed for extended periods of time, this has resulted in increased feed costs being incurred.
Analysis completed by Agriland has determined that additional feed cost due to the weather are in the region of €22.23/cow or €2,534.22 for 114 milking cows.
This is based off a 114 cow milking herd with dry matter (DM) intakes, ranging from 18.6-13kg (depending on calving date); with 4kg of the total DM coming from concentrates and the remainder coming from forage.
This is only part of the additional cost with lower milk supplies and lower kilos of milk solids being sold, adding to the reduced cash flow on dairy farms.
Milk supplies
Agriland contacted 15 Irish co-ops to determine the impact that the weather has had on the milk supplies so far in 2024.
Five of the 15 co-ops responded with Dairygold stating that milk supply is back 9% on 2023.
Arrabawn similarly stated that milk supply is back between 8 – 10% in February compared to 2023.
Lakeland Dairies said that supply in the Republic of Ireland is down 3% year to date, while Aurivo says that milk supply in February was up 1% on 2023.
In Tirlan’s milk price announcement for February’s supplies, it stated that yields/cow are 10% lower than the same period last year.
The biggest drop in milk supply for the year-to-date has been seen within Carbery group, consisting of the four West Cork co-ops (Bandon, Drinagh, Lisavaird and Barryroe).
Milk volumes are down 13.99% for the first 12 weeks of the year, compared to 2023.
Almost all the co-ops said that ongoing poor weather conditions was having the most significant impact on supplies.
It was also stated by some of the co-ops that while milk supplies are recovering, the weather will remain a key factor in that recovery over the coming weeks.
Protein
Many farms are also struggling with milk protein, with it being much lower than previous years.
The protein percentage of milk is a good indicator of energy status in cows. A lower than normal percentage is likely an indication that cows are getting enough energy from their feed.
You should avoid trying to over complicate diets and instead, focus on trying to get cows grazing and increasing milk protein and production from cows.