Search our website enhanced by Google.
High fat and protein push September prices up 1.3ppl
Wednesday, 13 November 2019
High milk solids into manufacturing products boosted average milk prices in September
It’s often difficult to marry up milk price changes quoted by companies based on standard litres, and the official average milk price paid in the UK, as quoted by Defra. September was no exception, with the Defra average put at 29.68ppl, up 0.88ppl on August, and ahead of the vast majority of “standard litre” prices quoted in our own milk price calculator. So, why the difference?
Part of the reason is that some milk buyers continue to offer seasonal incentives through the autumn to encourage more milk. However, by far the biggest impact comes from butterfat and protein levels.
UK fat and protein levels hit averages of 4.14% and 3.41% in September, the highest levels for both for at least ten years. But even the increase in the overall average doesn’t tell the whole story. In September, for the first time, we started to gather milk quality information split by end market. In other words, milk destined for the liquid market compared with milk being manufactured into other products where milk solids, particularly protein, are more important.
While still provisional, the results suggest that milk destined for the liquid market averaged around 4.0% butterfat and 3.3% protein. Whereas milk for the manufacturing industry hit 4.3% butterfat and a whopping 3.7% protein. It is predominantly these additional solids that have boosted average milk prices in the country. Based on our milk price calculator, the higher solids added 1.3 pence per litre to the UK average milk price in September compared with our standard litre levels of 4.07% and 3.30%.
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.