Milk Price Research Articles

Economic impact of staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal subclinical mastitis in dairy herds from Northeast Brazil.

This study aimed to assess the impact of S. aureus as well as Non-aureus Staphylococci and Mammaliicocci (NASM) subclinical mastitis-causing in the economic return in dairy herds. Data were gathered from the databases of five dairy herds located in the Agreste region of Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil, over a period of three consecutive months. A total of 155 mammary quarters from 155 healthy cows were categorized into the healthy group. Meanwhile, 257 mammary quarters from 187 cows that tested positive for either S. aureus or NASM were categorized into the infected group. The effect of mammary quarter infection in economic return was estimated using milk payment criteria on milk samples from healthy vs. infected cows based on a linear mixed model. Milk yield and milk price influenced the economic return, and both varied according to factors like herd, parity, stage of lactation, period of analysis, and the type of pathogen causing subclinical mastitis. There was a reduction in the average economic return caused by NASM infection (by 0.41 to 0.65 US$/cow/day) and S. aureus infection (by 0.25 to 0.36 US$/cow/day), when considering the effect of the pathogen over time for 1 and ≥ 2 infected quarters. Although no significant differences were observed in economic return between healthy cows and those infected with NASM or S. aureus, it is important to collect data on these pathogens for a more precise assessment of the economic impact of subclinical mastitis and for developing enhanced approaches for prevention and control.

Animal welfare has priority: Swiss consumers’ preferences for animal welfare, greenhouse gas reductions and other sustainability improvements in dairy products

Animal welfare is at the forefront of the debate on sustainable food systems. However, animal welfare improvements often imply higher costs for producers. We explored whether Swiss consumers are willing to contribute monetarily to such improvements through an increase in prices of butter or milk. Based on a discrete choice experiment on 986 Swiss consumers, we investigated preferences for two animal welfare improvements in the dairy industry – loose housing and farm killing – as well as for organic production, origin of product, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Furthermore, we investigated how consumers perceive a potential conflict between of GHG reductions and animal welfare concerns. Half of our sample faced increases in milk prices; the other half faced increases in butter prices. Findings indicate that animal welfare is of higher importance to consumers when compared to the other attributes under analysis. Consumers oppose GHG reductions associated with deteriorations in animal welfare and are willing to pay for improvements in housing conditions and a less stressful killing of the animals. Improvements in animal welfare could be crucial for dairy industry actors and provide strong arguments in communicating the benefits of dairy products to consumers.

Comparing the nutritional value and prices of meat and milk substitutes with their animal-based benchmarks across six European countries

Since overconsumption of animal-sourced foods is directly linked to multiple environmental and health issues, a dietary shift is imperative. One approach to facilitate this change is the production of substitutes for animal-sourced foods based on plant-based or novel ingredients. However, to be a valid alternative, substitute products must match animal-sourced foods regarding their nutritional value while being price competitive. To understand where substitutes currently stand in that regard, this study presents a novel dataset containing the prices, main ingredients, and nutritional composition of almost 2600 substitute products as well as prices of approximately 7500 conventional products sold in major supermarket chains in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.Although comparative analyses (non-parametric two-sided Wilcoxon rank-sum tests at a 5 % significance level) of the results indicate that the meat substitutes generally contain a higher level of dietary fiber with lower saturated fats, these meat substitutes often also have lower protein quality and higher salt and sugar levels than the conventional products. On average, meat substitutes were found to be 24 to 115 % more expensive compared to conventional meat, except for the German samples where price parity has been reached. Among milk substitutes, only soy-based products have favorable macronutrient profiles. The average price premium charged for milk substitutes compared to cows’ milk is 35 to 58 %. In general, fortification rates of substitutes should be increased to ensure sufficient supplies of micronutrients, particularly among meat substitutes where fortification rates are below 20% except for the Netherlands. Following these results, certain individual products already provide high nutritional value at low costs. However, further improvements are required for substitutes to become a compelling alternative at each scale.

Productive and reproductive performances of buffaloes in Bhola district of Bangladesh

This study aimed to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes across five sub-districts (Burhanuddin, Lalmohan, Char Fasson, Bhola Sadar, and Tazumuddin) in the Bhola district of Bangladesh. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 309 buffalo farmers. Daily milk yield ranged from 1.2 to 4.3 liters/cow/day, with over 90% of farmers selling to Goalas (local milk collectors) at BDT 87±22/liter. Lower milk prices were often reported due to pre-arranged advance loans from milkmen. Significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in milk yield across lactation stages, with the highest yields (2.9–3.9 L/day/buffalo) during the first 90 days. Most farmers (82%) relied solely on grazing in the Bathan system, without supplemental concentrate feed. Reproductive parameters showed significant variation (p < 0.05) across the sub-districts, with Lalmohan having the lowest age at sexual maturity (2.98±0.08 years) and the shortest postpartum heat period (57.1±13.62 days). Bhola Sadar had the shortest calving intervals (11.92±0.43 months) and gestation periods (297.10±6.97 days). Burhanuddin had the lowest number of services per conception (1.46±0.50). To improve buffalo farming outcomes, it is decisive to establish local cooperatives for fair milk pricing, introduce supplemental feeding, enhance access to breeding resources, and bolster financial support, educational programs, and infrastructure. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 53(3): 111-120, 2024

Milk and dairy products market: creation of dairy clusters

In modern conditions, public health as a strategic resource is one of the most important indicators that determine the level and quality of life, and is ensured by saturating the market with high-quality food products with high consumer properties. The authors have studied the current state of production of milk and its processed products, which are in the second place in demand after bakery products. In each region of the republic there are processing enterprises of the dairy industry, but not all producers supply goods of high quality. Purpose - development of practical recommendations to provide the domestic market with high-grade and competitive dairy products on the basis of formation and development of dairy clusters. Methods - the system approach was used to determine the value chain from raw materials to finished products, statistical and comparative analysis - to study the dynamics, state, potential opportunities of the dairy subcomplex, economic entities, generalization method - to summarize the results of the study. Results - the main problems existing in the dairy industry of Kazakhstan are revealed: insufficiency of milk for food products, underutilization of production capacities, lack of large farms producing conditioned raw materials in the required volumes, high import dependence, purchase prices for raw milk. Conclusions - the authors recommend the formation of territorial dairy cluster structures. The implementation of this direction will allow to meet the needs not only of the domestic market, but also to achieve a high export potential of the dairy industry, to solve the issues of supply of necessary equipment, fodder for livestock, to increase the competitive advantages of dairy products, the level of utilization of the existing production potential, as well as to expand the raw material base. Of particular importance is the study of promising areas of the dairy industry, since milk and dairy products are necessarily present in the food basket of every family.

BEYOND THE ‘WILD SHEPHERD’: HOW GLOBAL CAPITALISM HAS RESHAPED PASTORALISM. SUGGESTIONS FROM A MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND

This article shows how, from the modern era up to the present day, Sardinian pastoralism has been increasingly incorporated into global capitalism, despite essentialising narratives about the primitiveness and backwardness of shepherds that have been propagated from the mid-eighteenth century to the present neoliberal phase. The case-study considered in this article illustrates how capitalism works as a ‘food regime’, producing the ‘conversion of agriculture and food to commodity-type relations, which, in addition to cheapening food, also incorporates agricultures and foods into investment strategies’ (McMichael 2013: 21). First, a reconstruction of the embedding of Sardinian pastoralism into the global capitalist chain from the modern age to the early twentieth century is presented. Then the changes in pastoralism from the post-World War II period to the 2000s and the neoliberal turn of the last twenty years are considered. The aim is to analyse how pastoralists coped with the uncertainties arising from being part of the global market, the volatility of milk prices and the resulting contradictions that have emerged. This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ .

Comparing the great recession and COVID‐19 using Long Short‐Term Memory: A close look into agricultural commodity prices

AbstractWe employ a neural network (NN) approach—Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM)—to study agricultural commodity prices during the 2008 Great Recession and the COVID‐19 recession. Our analysis reveals more structural breaks and higher volatility in plant‐based commodities like corn and soybeans during recessions compared with animal‐based commodities. The price reactions varied among commodities, with corn responding first to both recessions, while milk price, which was found independent of other prices, recovered last from the financial recession and first from the disease‐induced recession. This insight into commodity behavior during recessions can aid in trend prediction and recession preparation for investors and researchers.

Product differentiation, quality, and milk price stability: The case of the Swiss cheese market

AbstractWe investigate potential linkages between product and quality differentiation in the cheese markets and raw milk producer prices. We analyze the co‐movements of producer prices of milk delivered to cheese processing channels with different differentiation strategies, namely industrial, artisanal, and artisanal cheese with geographical indications (GI) in the Swiss dairy market. We find that overall, product and quality differentiation in cheese markets helps milk producers achieve higher and more stable prices. Additional GI protection does not guarantee further enhancement of producer prices. Rather, its effectiveness may depend largely on the strength of GI protection and the governance of producer organizations.

Test of Total Solids and Melting Rate of Coconut Milk-Based Ice Cream Combined with Cashew Milk

Ice cream is one of the most popular foods, favored by people of all ages, from children to adults. Cow's milk is generally the primary ingredient for making ice cream. However, due to limited production and relatively high prices of cow's milk, alternatives such as coconut milk and cashew milk combinations are being explored. The quality of ice cream is influenced by total solids and melting rate. This study aims to determine the total solids and melting rate of coconut milk-based ice cream with the addition of cashew milk. This research is an experimental study using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three treatments, varying the composition of coconut milk to cashew milk in ice cream production: 60%:40%, 50%:50%, and 40%:60%. The research procedure consisted of three stages:(1)Ice cream production;(2)Testing total solids in ice cream products;(3)Testing the melting rate of ice cream products Data were processed through editing, coding, tabulating, and entry. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA test. Results showed a significant difference in total solids among the treatments with varying ratios of coconut milk to cashew milk. Ice cream A had the highest total solids at 23.412%. However, the total solids values did not meet the quality requirements of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). Regarding melting rate, no significant difference was found among the treatments. Ice cream A exhibited the highest melting resistance with an average value of 0.865. The melting rate values met the SNI quality requirements, with an average melting time of 45 minutes.

Evaluación económica de un esquema de alimentación complementaria continua en cabras locales en pastoreo

Objective. To evaluate the economic viability of incorporating a long term-supplementary feeding scheme in grazing local goats from the last third of gestation and throughout lactation. Materials and methods. Twenty-four local goats were utilized: control group (CG, n=12) and supplemented group (SG; n=12). Daily milk production (DMP) was recorded in goats, per lactation (MPLT), and per lactation stage [early (MPEL) middle (MPML), and late lactation (MPLL)], duration of lactation (DL; days), final live weight (FLW), and final body condition (FBC). In kids, birth weight (BW), weight at sale (WS), age at sale (AS), and mortality rate were recorded. The economic analysis considered the costs of daily supplementation, labor for handling and care of the animals, and sale prices of milk and kids. Results. The best productive behavior and the highest incomes were obtained in SG (p<0.05) for all variables, except AS and mortality rate. The highest values in CG (p<0.05) were obtained in AS and economic profit in almost all the considered variables, Except in MPEL. Positive profits were obtained in SG in early and middle lactation, and negative in late lactation for SG, but with higher FBC. Conclusions. A long-term supplementary feeding is economically viable to increase income and profits from kids and milk sales and improves the body condition of the dams, which will benefit the productivity of the herd.

Reproductive Biotechnology Tools as a Game Changer for the Dairy Sector: The Case of Sexed Semen and Estrus Synchronization to Produce Seedstock Dairy Heifers

Human curiosity about the sexual orientation of living things has a long history. For thousands of years, livestock owners wanted to find a suitable way to predict the sex of the progeny to be born for their herds on their farm. Thanks to the development of semen sexing technology, animal breeding has undergone a revolution, which allows farmers to control the sex of their offspring. Sexed semen enhances overall productivity and also assists farmers in meeting the rising demand for high-quality dairy animals by enabling them to selectively generate seedstock female calves. The technology is a one-stop solution to enhance breed improvement especially in a country like Ethiopia where 97 percent of the cattle population is indigenous, which is not selected for milk production and results in undernourishment for animal source origin diet, including milk and meat. The benefits of using sexed semen include sex selection, improved genetic selection, enhanced breeding effectiveness, better control over herd dynamics, greater financial gains, environmental sustainability, and improved animal welfare. Hence, with the finding of this study, an overall result of a 98% response rate 95% female skewness, and 79% conception rate was recorded after being inseminated with sexed semen. The finding of the response rate is closer to the results reported by another researcher, while the average conception rate is comparatively higher. This could be due to careful animal selection, the use of fertile quality semen, proper heat detection, and inseminating at an optimum window of time. In general, from the piece of this study, it is possible to foresee and conclude that the adoption and application of sexed semen technology is a groundbreaking and game-changer technology for the dairy industry in a country like Ethiopia, which overcomes the limitations of improved crossbred dairy cattle, replacement heifers, and high milk prices on the one hand, a shortage of grazing land, and environmental destruction due to a decreasing number of unwanted cattle population on the other side.

Polish Dairy Farm Transformations and Competitiveness 20 Years after Poland's Accession to the European Union.

Poland is one of the leading milk producers in the EU, being the fifth largest after countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. From Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004 up to 2022, Polish milk production experienced dynamic development. In this, there occurred a strong decline in the number of dairy farms (by -78%) and the number of cows (by -21%), an increase in dairy herd size (3.5 times) and increase in milk production (+60%) and milk yield per cow (by +62%). These were among the highest growth dynamics among the analysed countries. As a result of this significant transformation, Poland maintained an important position in milk exports, with a 31% export share in production in 2022. The scale of milk production was the basic factor determining the efficiency and competitiveness of dairy farms in Poland. Milk yield, farmland productivity, labour productivity, milk price, and the Corrected Competitiveness Index (based on labour and land opportunity costs) all showed a positive relationship with cow herd size on the farm. Milk production is highly uncompetitive for smaller farms (<15 cows). Despite substantial public support, the smaller farms, where subsidies equal up to 47% of total production value, could not earn sufficient income to cover the cost of capital, risk, and management in 2008, and even more so in 2021. This is because the farm income is too small to cover the extremely high opportunity cost of labour. The larger farms (with 30 cows and more) are competitive and responsible for the majority (~60-70%) of milk produced and delivered to the market. The most challenging from the sectoral policy point of view are medium farms (10-29 cows), whose share in production and deliveries is still important. To survive as economically viable units, these farms have to increase in scale and improve productivity. Otherwise, they will be gradually supplanted by larger farms.

Did the 1917–21 economic depression accelerate the epidemiological transition? Milk prices, summer peak of mortality, and food-and-water causes of death in Madrid, Spain

This article aims to answer a provocative question: would higher prices, particularly that of milk, be beneficial for the survival of children under 2 years old? Using a database of more than 230,000 births, matched to deaths, we test this hypothesis in the context of a large Mediterranean city, Madrid, in the years 1915–1926. During this period an inflationary crisis spread from 1917 to 1921. We compare child survival, the impact of milk price fluctuations, and the summer mortality peak, controlling for socio-spatial segregation and considering all-cause mortality and mortality due to food- and water-borne illnesses, before, during and after the economic depression. A positive association between increases in the milk price and better chances of survival is statistically robust, but only observed during depression. Several explanations are discussed.

Perceived Constraints and Strategic Recommendations by Commercial Dairy Farmers in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

The present study was undertaken to find out the constraints faced by the commercial dairy farmers in adoption of advance dairy production practices. The Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh was specifically chosen for the study because it is regarded as a centre for commercial dairy farmers and has a well-established infrastructure for the development of the dairy industry. The sample consisted of 203 responders in total. The research findings revealed that the main constraints mentioned by commercial dairy farmers were the unavailability of green fodder year-round, low conception rates through artificial insemination, high cost of veterinary treatment, and low milk prices relative to production costs. Farmers suggest solutions such as increasing milk prices in proportion to feed and service costs, standardize labour costs, reducing feed material costs, and improving access to veterinary services and innovative technologies. Providing suitable solutions can improve dairy farming practices, enhance productivity, and support the economic well-being of dairy farmers

Milking to 2030: Economic and sustainability prospective of the Mexican dairy sector

Objective: This study aims to assess the productive and economic performance of the Mexican milk sector, particularly focusing on small and medium-scale dairy farms, and examining pessimistic, base, and optimistic scenarios. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a statistical univariate method with time series analysis (ARIMA), we analyzed productive efficiency and price behavior in Mexican dairy systems. Deterministic and stochastic estimations for production volume, milk price, and cattle inventory from 2021 to 2030 were established using confidence intervals to construct pessimistic (lower interval), base (mean), and optimistic (upper interval) scenarios. Results: The evaluated period witnessed an estimated 10.27% increase in production, equivalent to 576 million liters of milk, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0922%. Milk prices displayed an upward trend, with average prices of $0.66, $0.69, and $0.72 under pessimistic, base, and optimistic scenarios, respectively. In 2030, a 22% price increase compared to 2021 was observed. Considering a base price of $0.45 USD per liter in 2030, costs under pessimistic, base, and optimistic scenarios were $1,658.21, $1,756.43, and $1,855.31, resulting in profits of $1,160.75, $1,229.50, and $1,022.45 from milk sales. Cattle inventory exhibited an upward trend, paralleling milk volumes and prices. Limitations on study/implications: The study's use of a univariate method may incompletely capture market dynamics complexity, potentially underestimating the impact of external market forces and global economic conditions on milk prices. Findings/conclusions: To secure forecasted milk volumes in base and optimistic scenarios, maintaining and enhancing good management practices is crucial. Additionally, addressing the imperative to augment production efficiency and improve environmental sustainability and animal welfare is essential.

Profit Efficiency of Milk Producers in Ethiopia: Empirical Evidence from Western Shewa Milk Shade, Walmara District

The study assessed the profit efficiency and the responsible factors for the inefficiency of dairy farmers in West Shewa milkshed, central Ethiopia. A multistage random sampling method was employed to select sample households. The primary data were collected using structured questionnaires with computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI). Descriptive and econometric data analysis were performed, and the stochastic frontier model was the model used. The result disclosed that the dairy business is profitable, and the mean efficiency score is 71%, indicating the existence of 29% inefficiency in dairy farming. This result indicates that enhancement of all the efficiencies will enable households to attain a potential profit of 88428.25 birrs. Sex, the price of milk, and the number of cows owned were the main factors that affected the profit inefficiency of the dairy farmers. This study suggests that the profit efficiency of dairy farmers will be enhanced if they choose their dairy farm sizes based on the production resources they have, and if the milk collection centers are availed in all villages.

Selective treatment of clinical mastitis: Assessment of the Net Cash Impact on Dairy Farms Under Diverse Scenarios. A European Perspective.

Selective treatment of clinical mastitis (STCM) potentially reduces antimicrobial use without negative implications on cow's milk production or health. However, this approach comes with additional costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the net cash impact (NCI) of implementing STCM compared with blanket treatment of clinical mastitis (BTCM) under different diagnostic-test turnaround times (24 h, 14 h, and 8 h) using a stochastic partial budget analysis with Monte Carlo simulation. The target population was European commercial dairy herds; therefore, the model inputs were primarily from European sources. Additionally, variables associated with dairy management programs were obtained from USDA sources, worldwide multisite clinical trials, and expert opinion. The output was calculated by subtracting the cost of STCM from the cost of BTCM and it represented the expected NCI if a herd switched from BTCM to STCM. Depending on the time-to-treatment efficiency and diagnostic-test turnaround time, the expected mean NCI, assuming that STCM has no impact on the cow's future health or production, ranged from +€8.7 to +€12.4 per case with 72.4% to 84.8% of the iterations being ≥ €0. Moreover, using the numerically favorable health and production effects of STCM reported in the literature, the expected mean NCI ranged from +€44.5 to +€48.1 per case with 93.6% to 95.4% of the iterations being ≥ €0. The variables with the greatest contribution to NCI variance were proportion of gram-positive cases (39.2% of the variance) and days out of the tank for treated cows (22.0%). However, if future cow's health and production were accounted for, culling risk (24.6%), recurrence risk (19.4%), and milk yield (10.6%) would have the greatest contribution to NCI. The sensitivity analysis indicated that farms with high clinical mastitis incidence, low proportion of gram-positive cases, large number of days out of the tank for treated cows, higher milking frequency or using automatic milking systems, not using the highest priced diagnostic tests, and having high antimicrobial treatment costs are the best candidates for STCM. Improving time-to-treatment efficiency, for example, by using a rapid diagnostic test, leads to a favorable NCI, while high daily milk yield and milk price enhances the NCI in already positive scenarios. Finally, the cash flow entirely depends on future cow's health and milk yield. In conclusion, results indicate that overall, STCM is a practice that positively impacts the NCI of many herds.

Production Risk Analysis of Dairy Production Cooperative, Bogor, West Java

Abstract Bogor Dairy Production Cooperative (KPS Bogor) is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in Indonesia. Consisting of 127 active members, KPS Bogor produces an average of 78.8 liters of milk per farmer daily. However, the quantity and quality of milk produced fluctuate significantly, leading to income fluctuations for dairy farmers. This situation might indicate production risks faced by dairy farmers. This research aims to analyze the production risk KPS Bogor dairy farmers face. The study analyzes the variance level, coefficient of variation (CV), and the lower limit of dairy farming in KPS Bogor. The results showed that the production risk faced by dairy farmers was categorized as the “very high” category, with a CV value of 0.27 or 27 percent. Sensitivity analysis shows that dairy farmers at KPS Bogor faced the highest risk when the milk price reached the highest price, about 43 percent. Meanwhile, the lowest risk might occur from the production risk.

Effects of food price changes on child undernutrition among agricultural households in Nigeria

This study examines the effects of changing food prices on the nutritional outcomes of children under five years old in Nigeria, utilising data from the 2013 and 2016 Nigeria Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). We applied correlated random-effects probit and fixed-effects regression models to analyse the data. Results indicate an increase in stunting and decreases in wasting and underweight conditions among children over the years studied. Specifically, higher prices for fish, eggs, beef, rice, and cooking oil have a significant association with increased stunting, while increases in the prices of maize and garri are associated with greater wasting. Underweight increase with higher prices of milk, maize, and rice. In contrast, modest increases in yam and beans prices have not exacerbated undernutrition. The study also highlights the importance of household income growth and women's involvement in financial decisions in reducing child undernutrition. We advocate for agriculture-led, nutrition-sensitive policies that address the high costs of animal proteins and staples such as rice, maize, and garri, while monitoring and carefully regulating upticks in the prices of yam and beans.

Quality Analysis of Fresh Milk Based on Specific Gravity Parameters at CV Cita Nasional in Central Java, Indonesia

In maintaining the quality of milk produced, it is necessary to supervise and control quality. One important aspect is controlling the specific gravity value of fresh milk. The specific gravity parameter of fresh milk is one of the determinants of whether the milk can be accepted or rejected as raw material. In addition, it is also a determining factor in determining the selling price of milk. To determine the quality control of the specific gravity of fresh milk, the control chart analysis method is used. The results of the analysis that have been carried out from various KUDs obtained the average specific gravity of fresh milk from Capita Farm KUD which is 1.0295 g / mL; the average specific gravity of fresh milk from KUD Cepogo is 1.0265 g/mL; the average specific gravity of fresh milk from Andini KUD is 1.0266 g/mL; the average specific gravity of fresh milk from Getasan KUD is 1.0268 g/mL, and the average specific gravity of fresh milk from Boyolali Kota KUD is 1.0292 g/mL. The specific gravity value of fresh milk supplied from various KUD can be concluded that the specific gravity value meet the company's quality standards, SNI, and existing literature so it is said that the specific gravity of fresh milk in CV Cita Nasional is in control, and can be accepted as raw material for making pasteurized milk.