Kategorie: News

In Norway the dairy sector and the meat sector, led by the largest dairy cooperative Tine, have started a project to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Part of the project is the use of methane inhibitors when using specific Norwegian feed rations.

In Austria a number of 18000 dairy farms with 437000 cows participate in milk production control. That is 83.7 percent of the dairy farms. Last year, the number of participating farms decreased by 370 and the number of cows that are checked increased by 1607. In Austria, milk production control is carried out by eight organisations.

In Austria in 2022 a number of 28600 milk sheep (- 0.9%) produced average 408 kilogram milk (+9.1%). Of the production 10200 tonnes or 87.1 percent was used for human consumption and 1400 tonnes (11.9%) was fed to animals and one percent was spoiled. Source: Statistics Austria
In Austria in 2022 a number of 40400 (+2.5%) milk goats with an average production of 647 (-4.0%) kilogram milk produced a total volume of 26100 (-1.6%) tonnes milk. Of this 90.4 percent was used for human consumption and 8.6 percent was used for animal feed or other purposes. Source: Statistics Austria

Austrian cows produced in 2022 a volume of 3.9 million tonnes milk. This was 2.9 percent more than in 2021. Average milk production was with 7300 kilogram the same as in 2021. Of the produced milk 88.8 percent (+2.9%) was processed in dairies, 6.6 percent was fed to animals on the farm of origin and 3.6 percent was processed and or consumed on the farm of origin. Source: Statistics Austria

In Germany in June compared to May 2023 the raw material or compound value of milk at farm increased 0.6 eurocent to 37.0 eurocent per kilogram milk with 4.0 percent fat and 3.4 percent protein (exclusive VAT). This is 28.8 eurocent less than in the same month one year before. The highest future price of milk for the next 18 months on the Kieler Börsenmilchwert European Energy Exchange is the price for January 2025 at 44.2 eurocent. The lowest future price is the price for August 2023 at 36.6 eurocent.

In Germany the dairy cooperative Schwarzwaldmilch has acquired the license to manufacture and sell Landliebe fresh mixed milk drinks and Landliebe fresh milk in glass bottles. Landliebe is a main brand in Germany. The private dairy Müller took the brand name Landliebe and other brand names last year over from the Holland headquartered dairy cooperative Royal FrieslandCampina. The German cartel office required that Müller gave the brand licenses for Landliebe to a competitor.

In Germany the Switzerland headquartered private manufacturer of dairy products Emmi is divesting the Gläserne Molkerei, a northeast German-based company specialising in the production of regional organic dairy products, to Mutares with headquarters in the German Munich. The transaction is consistent with Emmi’s ongoing portfolio transformation and focus on profitable strategic markets and niches such as ready-to-drink coffee, speciality cheeses, premium chilled desserts and plant-based dairy alternatives, according to Emmi. The Gläserne Molkerei generated sales of around 100 million euro with over 120 employees in 2022.

In Germany the federal government is planning to ban the advertising of foods with a high sugar, fat or salt content in all media relevant to children and between 6.00 am till 11.00 pm. The ban includes also dairy products like cheese, yoghurt and others.

The Belgian Solarec is joining GDT, with the potential of offering a range of dairy ingredients including butter, skimmed milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder (WMP) and mozzarella (MOZZ). Solarec is 100 percent owned by five cooperatives (Laiterie des Ardennes accounts for 90%), is mostly a B2B dairy producer. Solarec transforms 1.55 billion (10*9) litres of milk annually from two production sites (Recogne and Baudour) into 110000 tonnes of milk powder, 50000 tonnes of butter, and 190 million litres of UHT milk. Recently, the company has added mozzarella to its product range, with a potential annual production of 32000 tonnes. They supply products to more than 80 countries on all five continents.

In Belgium in 2022 a number of 6092 dairy farms delivered average per farm a volume of 709000 kilogram milk which was 7.2 percent more than in 2021. To compare: ten years ago, in 2012 a number of 8733 dairy farms delivered average per farm 369000 kilogram milk.
Belgian dairies processed in 2022 a volume of 4.7 billion (10*9) kilogram milk which was one percent less than in 2021. Of the processed milk 92 percent was of Belgian origin and eight percent was imported.

The Belgian dairy cooperative Milcobel will try to get more milk supplied by non-members. For this non-members can get a contract for one year milk supply. After two years supplying non-members can become a member of the cooperative. The minimum period of being a member has been shortened from five years to two years.

In Belgium in 2022 the production of organic cow milk was 111.1 million kilogram which was 7.1 percent more than in 2021 and 2.6 percent of total Belgian cow milk production.

In Holland a sheep and goat farmer was attacked by a wolf. The wolf attacked sheep and goats in a meadow with a wolf-proof fence and had already killed several. When the farmer wanted to chase the wolf away with a pitchfork, the wolf attacked him and bit his arm. The farmer was treated for his injuries in hospital. The wolf was shot by the police on behalf of the mayor. One of the larger Dutch animal welfare organizations Faunabeheer subsequently filed a complaint with the judiciary against the mayor and against the farmer for disturbing, chasing away and killing a wolf.

The Holland headquartered dairy cooperative Royal FrieslandCampina has in the 12 month from July 2022 until July 2023 lost a number of 190 members that changed to another dairy.

The Holland headquartered dairy cooperative Royal FrieslandCampina and Mondelēz International have signed a four-year agreement aiming to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of milk supplied by FrieslandCampina’s member dairy farmers by 14 percent in 2025 compared to 2019. The milk is among others used as an ingredient for the production of Mondelēz International’s chocolate and biscuit products in Europe.

Holland had in 2022 a number of 630 farms that were processing milk. This was 26 more than in 2021. However: 55 farms started processing but 29 farms stopped processing. To compare: in 2018 Holland had 460 farms that processed milk.

In Holland new research shows that the effect of floors in dairy barns designed to limit ammonia emissions is often disappointing and that emissions differ little from those of traditional concrete slatted floors. The emission-limiting factors determined per floor by a government agency often turn out to be incorrect in practice. Thousands of dairy farms have each invested more than one hundred thousand euros in such floors. It is still unclear what consequences the disappointing results will have for the dairy farms concerned and perhaps also for other dairy farms.

In Holland in 2022 the use of antibiotics on dairy farms was 2.3 day doses per cow, the same as in 2021. The number of day doses per cow is based on the daily dose, the amount of active substance administered of a particular antibiotic that is active for one day. The average day doses per cow is then calculated by adding up all the daily doses and dividing by the average number of cows present in that particular year.

In the United Kingdom a survey of AHDB shows that the use of sexed cattle semen is increasing. From March 2022 till March 2023 sales of sexed semen increased to 76.5 percent of all dairy semen. In 2022 this was 70 percent. The survey also shows that the use of beef semen for dairy cows increased to 49 percent. The most used breeds for this are British Blue and Aberdeen Angus, Limousin and Hereford. For beef production the use of Wagyu semen is increasing.

In the United Kingdom the government has outlined details on regulations set to come into force later this year which will ensure supply contracts in the dairy sector are fair and transparent, with farmers being paid a fair price for their produce. The regulations form part of the government’s wider strategy to grow a thriving British food and drink sector which will put more British produce on supermarket shelves in the UK and around the world. The regulations will mean: Farmers have clearer pricing terms, with contracts setting out the factors which generate the milk price and allowing farmers to challenge prices if they feel this process is not being followed. Changes to contracts cannot be imposed on farmers without their agreement. Farmers’ contracts will all include a straightforward way to raise concerns about their contracts, promoting accountability and timely issue resolution. There will be clear rules put in place on notice periods and contractual exclusivity, protecting the rights of both buyers and sellers. An enforcement mechanism is created to guarantee the regulations are followed.