Milk production expected to be up 3-5% in 2005

Food & Drink Weekly, August 15, 2005

More dairy cows are being milked this year, yields are not expected to have been affected by the drought in the Midwest and overall milk production should be up 3-5% year on year, dairy industry sources told Reuters news agency.

Fears that this year's yield might not reach average levels prompted price fluctuations on markets over the last few months. There has been a decrease in production in some areas, with temperatures soaring over 38[degrees] centigrade in some southern and southwestern states.

An increase in cow numbers in 2005 and plentiful supplies of low price feed and Posilac--an artificial growth hormone that boosts milk production around 15%--have all been responsible for this year's expected increase in milk production. Increased supplies of feed helped ease heat stress in the cows. Posilac was in short supply last year due to manufacturing problems, resulting in reduced milk yields. The USDA has estimated that milk production will be up 4.5% year on year.