Latest milk utilisation figures for April 2008 show that milk utilised for liquid has fallen by 1 million litres (0.2%) to 549 million litres, compared to April 2007. Milk utilised for butter was 9.1% lower than April 2007 at 20 million litres. Cheese and cream utilisation figures fell by 0.3% (1 million litres) and 12.5% (3 million litres) respectively over the same period.

Cumulative production for the January to April 2008 showed that milk used for liquid increased by 2.9%, to 2,237 million litres, compared to the same period in 2007. Milk used for butter was down by 8.3% to 77 million litres over the same period, a fall of 7 million litres. Cream production fell over the period, by 15.2% to 84 million litres compared to 99 million litres in January to April 2007.

Cheese and yogurt production also saw falls in the period January to April 2008, when compared to the previous year, however the falls were not as extreme as butter and cream production. Cheese production fell 2.9% - 36 million litres, while yogurt production fell 2.4% - 2 million litres.

Production of manufactured dairy products have fallen, this in part maybe due to the fall in milk production when compared with previous years, therefore there is less raw milk available after demand for liquid milk has been satisfied. Consumer demand for liquid milk is showing signs of increasing which further reduces the amount of raw milk available for manufactured dairy products.

Utilisation of Milk 2008 (Source: Defra)

Note: All figures are provisional and subject to change

Milk utilisation figures for the 2007/08 milk year showed that with the exception of butter and yogurt, milk used for the production of milk products was down compared to the previous milk year. While milk used for liquid saw an increase of 1.0% to 6,667 million litres. Butter production increased 1.3% - 3 million litres in 2007/08 when compared to 2006/07, this may in part be due to the increase in butter wholesale prices in the autumn of 2007, which may have encouraged more milk to be put into butter production. For more information wholesale prices click here.

Yogurt production increased 3.9% - 9 million litres to 241 million litres. While cheese production fell 6.1% to 3,492 million litres a fall of 228 million litres. Cream production fell the most - 15.5%, 49 million litres to 267 million litres.