Search our website enhanced by Google.
GB milk deliveries: 2023/24 season ends at seven-year low
Monday, 8 April 2024
Estimated GB milk deliveries in March totalled 1,086 million litres, only 0.1% (0.95 million litres) down compared to the same month last year. Daily deliveries averaged 35.03 million litres.
March completes the GB milk season, with deliveries totalling an estimated 12.35 billion litres for the full year and with daily deliveries averaging 33.75 million litres. It is important to remember that as 2024 is a leap year, there was an extra day in February, raising the actual milk-delivered figure. If we compare on a 365-day equivalent, the total delivered volume for the 2023/34 milk year stands at 12.32 billion litres, a decline of 0.5% (63.60 million litres) on the previous year. This is the lowest milk-year volume recorded since the 2016/17 season.
As discussed at the recent milk forecasting forum, the decrease in production can be attributed to lower yields per cow. Lower milk prices in 2023 compared to the previous year combined with high input costs meant that producers were not incentivised to push production, resulting in a lower milk yield.
Looking forward, the forum discussed how the current wet weather will impact dairy farmers and, in turn, the effects on milk production. We expect to see subdued production as the wet ground delays turning out cows onto grass, with some concerns about the ability to carry out groundwork and the potential knock on effects on grass and silage quality for the coming season. This is reflected in the latest forecast as a marginal decline is expected in GB milk production for the 2024/25 season.
Sign up to receive the latest information from AHDB.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.