cows

Dairy production is a critical component of the agriculture industry focused on the sustainable production of milk and milk-derived products.

Key aspects include animal health and welfare, milk quality, and efficient processing techniques. Sustainable and ethical practices, alongside technological advancements, play a vital role in ensuring the quality, quantity, and environmental responsibility of dairy production. Please share tools, information and resources relevant to dairy production.

UK Dairy Industry Statistics September 2021:

  • The UK is the thirteenth-largest milk producer in the world.
  • Milk accounted for 16.4% of total agricultural output in the UK in 2020 and was worth £4.4bn in market prices.
  • The total number of UK dairy cows has fallen from 2.6 million in 1996 to 1.9 million in 2020, a 28% reduction.
  • The UK produced 15.3 billion litres of milk in 2020, the highest annual figure since 1990.
  • In 2019, the UK recorded a trade surplus in volume terms for dairy for the first time since records began (1997). This surplus continued in 2020 although it reduced in size.
  • In 2020, the UK had a negative trade balance in butter and cheese, but a positive trade balance in milk and cream.
  • Farm-gate milk prices for June 2021 were 30.4 pence per litre, up from a low of 21.5 ppl in August 2016.
  • Between 1995 and today, doorstep delivery has declined from 45% to 3% of the retail milk market, despite increases during the pandemic.
  • Supply chains were disrupted following the lockdown imposed to suppress the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020. Milk prices recovered later in the year.
  • Exports of dairy products to the EU decreased following the end of the EU Exit transition period.

Full Parliamentary briefing paper

Reducing the carbon footprint of milk

Related Organisations

Content below is from across the PEP community and is not necessarily endorsed by Stewards or by PEP

Connected Content

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We deliver transformational projects to drive productivity and boost farming and supply chain businesses. We want the industry to thrive in a rapidly changing world and continue to produce high quality food, maintain our beautiful landscape and leave a legacy for generations to come. 

Grass

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GrassCheck

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CIEL

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Animal health is integral to the sustainability, profitability, and ethical considerations of livestock farming. It involves a combination of preventative measures, good management practices, and veterinary care to ensure that animals are raised in a manner that is both economically viable and environmentally responsible while prioritizing their well-being and public health.

Calves

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Breedr

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Lameness

  Lameness is a significant health issue affecting farmed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. It refers to an abnormal gait or difficulty in walking, and it can have various causes, leading to pain and discomfort for the animals.

Housing

Proper housing is essential for the well-being, health, and productivity of livestock, as well as for the efficient management of farm operations. The type of housing and its design can vary depending on the species of livestock, climate, and specific management goals.

Does extended pasture resting after grazing improve soil microbiology and soil health?

Dairy farmers in the south west of England are exploring whether they can improve soil whilst maintaining forage quality when adopting longer resting periods after defoliation.

Mastitis

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Kingshay

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LEAP conference 2024

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Control of infectious diseases in dairy cattle

Animal tissues colonised with pathogenic organisms are said to be ‘infected’.

Lameness in dairy cows

From identifying lesions to treatment and nutrition, our information and resources can help you to manage all aspects of lameness.

Strategies and technologies towards reduced lameness in cattle

Lameness is the third most impactful disease in dairy cattle, with respect to economics and animal welfare

Seven ways dairy farmers could help reduce carbon emissions

The dairy sector is often in the firing line when it comes to the criticism cows receive for their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This is despite total emissions from UK dairy production falling by 16.1% between 1990 and 2020.

Soil Structure Maintained in More Densely Stocked Cell-Grazed Pastures

New study suggests “techno-grazing” approaches can support more cattle in less space without adversely affecting soil structure and function

National TB Conference

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CAN feeding and weaning webinar

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Webinar: How to provide the perfect ambient environment for calves

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Livestock and the arable rotation

Learn about the benefits of livestock in the arable rotation. See our information on forage crops, cover crops, outdoor pigs, farmyard manure and more.

Dairy-Tech 2024

After yet another successful event in 2023, Dairy-Tech will return on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at Stoneleigh Park.

Improving cattle handling for Better Returns

Improving cattle handling for Better Returns

Pasture-fed production - findings from the SEEGSLIP project

The SEEGSLIP project sought to evidence the practices of a particular group of farmers, the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) in terms of their social, ecological and economic sustainability. This video explains the project, the pasture-fed concept and some of our research findings.

The Forage First guide

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Youngstock housing

Youngstock are the future of any farm. Investing in them is an investment in the farm’s future, too.

Outwintering Strategies for Livestock

The aim of this guide is to aid decision making for livestock producers who are looking to outwinter stock and what systems may best suit their farm.

Youngstock housing case study – Eldon Farm

Stephanie Eldon and her family farm a unit with 199 dairy cows in Northern Ireland, producing 75 heifers calving into the herd per year. It is a Holstein closed herd calving all year round, with a 305-day average yield of 8,896 litres (L).

Feeding growing and finishing cattle for Better Returns

Driving feed efficiency is crucial in all beef growing and finishing systems. 

Counting Carbon; Does a Smaller Footprint Leave Less Impact? Defining Sustainability in the Dairy Sector.

Carbon footprints are presented within the contemporary media, commercial entities and frequently by government agencies as a proximate measure for sustainability.

Body condition scoring flow chart

A flowchart on how to assess body condition score in dairy cattle, using the Penn State assessment method.

Tree leaves as supplementary feed for ruminant livestock

Silvopastoral agroforestry – integrating shelterbelts, hedgerows or in-field trees with grazing livestock – can provide domestic animals with benefits, including shelter and shade, as well as supplementing their diets as tree browse or fodder.

Planning grazing strategies for Better Returns

Grass is an important crop and grazed grass is the cheapest feed on farm, yet it rarely earns the respect it deserves as a potentially high-quality, natural ruminant feed.

Making use of Bale Grazing at Balcaskie

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Managing Nutrients for Better Returns

Nutrient management can often be forgotten on beef and sheep farms, yet there is considerable scope to reduce costs and improve output through the use of home-produced and bought-in nutrients.

Working Towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions: Improving fertility in the dairy herd

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Healthy calf rearing system checklist

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Choosing bulls for Better Returns

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Parasite control guide

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The Medicine Hub for dairy, beef and sheep farmers

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Bale grazing as an effective livestock outwintering strategy

This recording from the Oxford Real Farming Conference is of a discussion between farmers involved in the Innovative Farmers Bale grazing project.

Lameness Scoring Poster

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'Green Genes' Revolutionising Cattle Breeding For A Sustainable Future

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Bale Grazing – Lessons From Our Field Lab - Groundswell 2023

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Cow-reared calf husbandry in dairy farming

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Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) can have a devastating effect on the health and welfare of grazing livestock and historically, control has relied heavily on the routine blanket use of flukicide treatments.

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In partnership with The Andersons Centre, AHDB have published an update to The Characteristics of Top-Performing Farms in the UK, a piece of work which remains popular with farmers.

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National Youngstock Conference

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