Introduction of milk price at LTO constituents

Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) has confirmed that each Irish milk processor will now express their milk price on the basis of 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein, which is the European standard and close to the average milk constituents in Ireland.

Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) has confirmed that each Irish milk processor will now express their milk price on the basis of 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein, which is the European standard and close to the average milk constituents in Ireland.

This addition will simply involve an extra line in milk price announcements. We will not be changing our milk payment system in any way. The base price will continue to be quoted at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein.

The additional information will simply make it easier to compare prices across Europe as all processors will be using a common language. 

The additional information provided and the constituents quoted is also in line with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) average for Ireland in 2020 which shows butterfat at 4.2% and protein at 3.55%. This is also the solids base used to calculate the Irish Farmers Journal Monthly Price League.

Again, we want to reassure our farmers that the status quo remains – the system will not change. You are simply getting more information than you previously did.

First Published: 16 February 2021