Kategorie: News

In the Belgian northern part Flanders, the main dairy area of Belgium,in 2021 the average somatic cell count of tank milk samples was 192220 cells per millilitre, almost the same as in 2020.

In Holland the dairy cooperative Royal FrieslandCampina will move its Dutch production and logistics for fresh-daily dairy in Rotterdam to its production for fresh-daily dairy in Maasdam and will also close two milk powder towers in Leeuwarden. As a result of the closed milk powder towers in Leeuwarden 55 out of 750 jobs will be lost and in Rotterdam 142 jobs will be lost while 40 new jobs will be created in Maasdam.

In Holland in 2021 75 percent of the dairy farms produced more manure than could be used on own land according to the application standards for nitrogen and phosphate. In 2020, the share of dairy farms with a manure surplus was still 79 percent, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands.

In Holland research of Wageningen University & Research shows that feeding fresh grass to cows, especially through grazing, can reduce the emission of ammonia 10 to 30 percent. Among others this is caused by that cows graze younger grass than that is mowed for fresh feeding as well for making silage.

In Holland current 800 dairy farms produce milk under the label ‚On the Way to PlanetProof‘. PlanetProof milk meets strict requirements for animals, nature and climate and farms receive a bonus.

On Dutch dairy farms in 2021 the costs of feed increased 1.37 euro or 13 percent to 12.24 euro per 100 kilogram milk, according to the accountancy company Alfa.

In Great Britain the number of dairy cows totaled 1.64 million head on January 1, 2022. This is 34000 head or 2.0 percent less compared to one year before and continues the long-term trend of declining. However: the number of youngstock (<2 years) is increasing already two years with on January 1, 2022 a number of 933000 head, which is 45000 or 5.1 percent more than one year before. (Source: BCMS)

The United Kingdom trade balance for all dairy products was negative in volume terms in 2021, following two years of a small surplus. Including shipments of unprocessed milk, there was a deficit of 68000 tonnes in 2021, compared to a surplus of 53000 tonnes in 2020. Liquid milk has a big influence on the dairy trade balance, but the volume mostly comes from raw milk crossing the Irish border for processing. This category has the largest trade surplus, but this shrank in 2021, mainly due to higher imports. The largest contribution in the shift from surplus to deficit was in yogurt. The trade deficit in yogurt increased, driven by lower exports and higher imports than in 2020. Additionally, cream went back into a slight trade deficit in 2021, having been in surplus in 2020. Milk powders (SMP and WMP) maintained a trade surplus, but it was lower than in 2020. This was driven by lower exports, especially to the EU, which were likely hindered by post-EU-exit regulations. On a more positive note, the volume trade balances of butter, cheese, and concentrated milk all improved, with smaller trade deficits in 2021 than in 2020. Cheese had the most notable improvement, reducing the trade deficit by 49000 tonnes. Both imports and exports of cheese fell compared to 2020, but imports more so. This was most likely due to the foodservice sector still dealing with lockdowns and low demand through the year. (Source: AHDB)

In the United Kingdom the Denmark headquartered dairy cooperative Arla has announced new growth ambitions in the UK for the next five years. As part of the growth strategy, Arla will also explore export opportunities out of the UK for the first time as well as the need for more milk, from existing and potentially new farmer owners in the UK. Britain’s largest dairy cooperative is planning long-term investments in its UK supply chain, key sales channels and market leading brands. Over the next five years, Arla looks to grow its UK business through a combination of branded and added-value private label innovation in prioritised categories like liquid milk, yogurts, butter and spreads, milk-based beverages and cheese. The ambition is to grow the branded share of the revenue to 45 per cent from 38 per cent. Arla also targets more than 50 percent growth across its UK organic retail and foodservice business in the next five years. Arla will explore opportunities to begin exporting raw milk from the UK to supply Arla’s global supply chain and has begun trials to move milk to its European processing sites.

Ireland had in June 2021 a number of 1604500 dairy cows which was 36800 head or 2.4 percent more than one year before.

The Irish dairy cooperative Lakeland stops accepting new milk suppliers in 2023 and later. To bring the milk supply more in balance with the processing capacity, Lakeland introduces in 2023 a penalty payment during the months April, May and June of 4 eurocent per litre on the volume of milk that is produced more than in 2021. However: for extra milk supplied in January 2023 compared to January 2022 the dairy will pay a bonus of 4 eurocent per litre.

In Ireland a group of experts that has to advise the government about how to attack climate change advices among others a reduction of the use of chemical nitrogen by 35 percent, on pastures the substitution of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) with protected urea, the use of low emission slurry spreading and the use of clover in pastures, all by the end of 2025 .

In Finland the dairy cooperative Valio and the private meat and food company Atria have during 12 weeks with 400 cows at three different dairy farms tested the Bovaer feed additive that is aimed to reduce methane emissions from cows by around 30 percent. During the pilot period, the cows’ milk production remained normal and no changes were detected in the composition of the milk. Nor was anything unusual detected in the cows’ behaviour and welfare. Based on the results of the pilot, the additive can be safely added to the cow feed, according to Valio.

Finland’s largest dairy cooperative Valio and the energy company St1 have set up a joint venture to produce renewable biogas from dairy manure and agricultural by-products as a transport fuel. Joint venture, called Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, is planning to build Finland’s largest biogas and liquefaction plant in Northern Savonia.

Finland is now officially free from cattle disease BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea). The EU Commission has officially granted Finland the status of a BVD-free country with an amendment to the regulation dated 17 February 2022. In addition to Finland, Sweden and Austria were recognized as BVD-free, as were some parts of Germany.

In Finland in 2021 was 80 percent of the dairy cows and almost 80 percent of the dairy farms was in milk recording. Three percent of the milk recorded cows belong to organic herds. Average herd size was 53,3 cows, which was 2,8 cows more than year 2020. Average milk yield per cow was 10704 kg ECM (energy corrected milk).

In Norway the dairy cooperative Tine has opened a modernized cheese plant from which cheese will be exported to South Korea.

In Switzerland the private dairies Emmi and Nestlé together with the dairy cooperative Aaremilch and the Central Switzerland Milk Producers Cooperative (ZMP), four major players in the Swiss dairy industry, have launched the “KlimaStaR Milk” resource project. This to gain scientifically based insights, in order to make the Swiss dairy industry more competitive and sustainable with respect to climate protection and resource efficiency. Around 300 farms are to be involved in the project and supported by research and milk processors. With a tailored mix of measures, the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural milk production by 20 percent on average. “KlimaStaR Milk” aims to create a common basis for a more sustainable, resource-saving and land-appropriate Swiss dairy industry and thus position it for long-term success.

The European Union housed in December 2021 a number of 20.22 million dairy cows which was 317000 or 3.4 percent less than one year before. Main decrease had France with 2.5 percent to a total of 3.32 million cows, followed by Germany with a decrease of 2.3 percent to a total number of 3.83 million cows. In Poland the number of dairy cows decreased 90.500 head or 4.2 percent to a total number of 2.04 million cows. On the other hand: in Ireland the number of dairy cows increased 3.4 percent to a total number of 1.51 million head. A small increase in dairy cow numbers had the Czech republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Austria.

In France, the discounter Aldi has made an agreement about a guaranteed farmers price for organic milk with the private dairy Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel (LSDH) and the dairy cooperative Herbauges of 49.2 eurocent per litre that with bonuses can increase to 50.7 eurocent per litre during a three year period. According to Aldi in its 1300 French supermarkets it sells only milk of French origin.