Milk Trade Research Articles

An analysis of the contribution of the informal milk market to nutrition in Kenya

BackgroundThe dairy sector in Kenya is an important part of the agricultural GDP of the country. Its legal framework was reformed in 2004 to address the economic importance that the informal sector (i.e. trading on raw milk) had for smallholders’ producers. However, this reform was accused of being a pro-poor policy instead of focusing on the development of the formal dairy sector. In recent years, there has been pressure to go back to the pre-2004 regulatory system and to illegalize the raw milk trade. An aspect that has been absent from the discussion is the contribution that the informal market has to households’ nutrition. The contribution of this paper is to address this shortcoming using the most recent Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey for 2015–16.ResultsThe results indicate that the rural annual milk consumption (70.2 L) surpasses that of urban areas (68.8 L). These values are different to those found in the literature. County consumption varies depending on the availability of milk, which appears associated to the production capacity and the climate of the region. However, regardless of the region unpacked milk is the most consumed dairy item representing 72 per cent of the total countrywide; 84 per cent of the rural total and 55 per cent of the urban area.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the sector provides significant nutrition especially to poor economic groups. Therefore, attempting to ban the informal sector would have negative consequences for Kenya's food security, impacting mostly on the nutritional security of low-income households. In addition, the nutritional aspects that the informal dairy sector provides need to be considered alongside the economic ones in future debates regarding regulatory reforms of the sector.

Consumption and Informal Trade of Milk in the North of Antioquia (Colombia).

The excessive and irrational use of antibiotics to control bovine mastitis and the informal trade in milk with antibiotic residues are objects of great interest for public health, due to the problems associated with the consumption of milk with antibiotic residues on human, animal, and environmental health, and antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to understand the attitudes of dairy farmers towards the self-consumption of milk on the farm, the use of milk with antibiotic residues, and the formal and informal milk trade that generates risks for public health. Mixed methods: cross-sectional and grounded theory. Convergent triangulation design. The study was carried out in 9 dairy municipalities in the North of Antioquia, where 216 dairy farmers participated in the quantitative component; and 17 milk producers and 9 veterinarians took part in the qualitative component. A dairy farmer characterization survey was conducted, as well as a survey on the use and marketing of milk from cows with udder health problems and/or under antibiotic treatment. Semistructured interviews were conducted on the same subject. The variable "Intention to sell milk in the village when the dairy industry does not buy it due to high BTSCC" is associated with the BTSCC variable. The variable "Type of marketing reported" is associated with the CFU variable. 5 categories: self-consumption of milk, use of milk with antibiotics, informal milk trade, control of the dairy industry, and beliefs about the elimination of antibiotics in milk, were constructed to theorize about udder health and public health. Sociocultural, political, and economic factors affect decision making in dairy farmers regarding the use and marketing of milk from cows with mastitis and antibiotic residues. These attitudes and behaviors have public health implications.

Enhancing the Quality of Dairy Products by Reducing the Pilferage and Increase the Efficiency of Logistics Performance by Using Automated Dairy System.

Background: Dairy farming is a vital sector in developing countries, where small farmers contribute approximately 80% of the dairy milk supply. These farmers often rely on traditional practices and are disconnected from technological advancements. This gap highlights the necessity for technology integration to meet the increasing global demand for dairy products. Objective: This research paper aims to prevent water adulteration in milk and enhance the monitoring of the milk trade through an Automated Dairy System, ensuring the provision of pure milk to the public. Methods: Our Automated Dairy System incorporates several components and interfaces, including a Sensor Interface (I/O), Internet Connection Interface, Bluetooth Interface, and Audio Interface. The system enables dairy farmers to check milk quality for impurities before dispatching to vendors and upon arrival. Additionally, it tracks the transportation of milk containers from farms using GPS technology. Results: Initial tests on the prototype demonstrate the system's effectiveness in detecting changes in milk volume, indicating potential adulteration. The GPS tracking feature successfully monitors the transport process, ensuring the milk's purity during transit. Conclusion: The implementation of this Automated Dairy System in dairy farming, especially in Pakistan, represents a significant stride towards improving milk quality and quantity. This innovation not only meets the current technological gap in traditional farming practices but also aligns with the growing global demand for high-quality dairy products. Our system is expected to have a substantial impact on the dairy industry by ensuring the delivery of pure milk to consumers and enhancing the overall efficiency of milk production and trade.

Production and Trade of Milk and Dairy Products in Serbia

Production and Trade of Milk and Dairy Products in Serbia

Organizational and economic principles of milk sales to processing enterprises under the conditions of marital state

Introduction. The current state of economic relations in the dairy sub-complex of Ukraine is characterized by low efficiency, imbalance and limited diversification of organizational and economic forms of their implementation. Note that the problem consists in determining the main ways of improving the system of financial and economic relations between all participants of the technological chain of production of the final products of the dairy sub-complex in order to increase the socio-economic efficiency of this process. Goal. The purpose of the study is to develop practical recommendations for increasing the efficiency of the sale of milk by farms of all forms of management to milk processing enterprises in the conditions of the introduction of martial law in the country. Method (methodology). The following methods of scientific research were used to fulfill the tasks: induction and deduction - to highlight the main types of efficiency and interpret the concept of general efficiency; analysis and synthesis - to single out the "production - processing of milk" system in the structure of the dairy sub-complex and to single out from the set of institutions of the infrastructure of the dairy sub-complex those that directly affect the functioning of the "production - processing of milk" system; economic-statistical method (dynamic series, analytical grouping, etc.) - to establish the trends of changes in individual indicators of the functioning of the dairy sub-complex. The results. In the current difficult time for all participants in the milk trade, there is a violation of interaction, especially between processors and trade. Thus, wholesale and retail trade enterprises, continuing the practice of non-payment, create a serious problem that leads to a chain reaction, which will negatively affect the development of the dairy sub-complex as a whole. This circumstance requires the adoption of the draft Law of Ukraine "On Trade", which would solve the above-mentioned urgent problem.

Changes in the comparative advantage of Polish dairy products

Competitiveness is one of the key concepts in economic sciences, andit is defined as the ability of businesses to compete in the market. The aim of this study was to assess the competitiveness of dairy products in Poland. The competitiveness was evaluated in a macroeconomic approach by analysing the exports, imports, and the trade balance. The results were processed and presented with the use of tabular, graphic, and descriptive methods. After Poland joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, one of the key goals was to improve the quality, storage, and applicability of dairy products, and to promote trade in milk and dairy products. The Polish dairy industry reported a positive balance in the foreign trade of milk and dairy products, which contributed to positive values in the competitiveness indicators of dairy products. The values of the export specialisation index (SI), export revealed comparative advantage (XRCA), relative import penetration index (MRCA), foreign trade coverage ratio (CRK), and the Grubel-Lloyd intra-industry trade index (IITk) were positive, which attests to the competitiveness of Polish dairy products. We proved that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the competitiveness of dairy enterprises in Poland.

Online camel milk trade: new players, new markets (Update)

The rapid growth of the dromedary and Bactrian camel population worldwide aims in part at satisfying a growing demand for camel milk. We analyze these changes by studying the recent arrival of online trade of camel milk products. This study highlights the emergence of actors involved in the intensive production of camel milk, but also in the trade of milk powder, fermented milk and cheese. These new camel milk entrepreneurs are located for the most part in countries without camel farms, notably in Europe, the United States, Canada and several emerging countries. The prices of milk sold over the Internet are extremely variable, highlighting a market that is under construction. The emergence of this trade reflects a dualistic innovation process. This entrepreneurial dairy economy based on exchanges between intensive livestock farms and distant consumers sharply contrasts with a local dairy economy based on periurban trade in fresh milk, which is strongly correlated with pastoral systems. We conclude with research and development recommendations to make the online trade of camel milk more inclusive.

The governance of quality and safety in Tanzania's informal milk markets

Despite significant economic and social transformation in Tanzania, 95% of the milk produced in Tanzania is marketed informally. Most of this is commercialized raw (unpasteurized) and distributed and sold through informal traders and vendors to low-income consumers, making it an important source of nutrition and livelihoods. While Tanzania's official dairy policy promotes pasteurization and formal industry, in practice the regulatory environment is relatively permissive of informal raw milk trade. We draw on original data from a survey with over 200 informal market actors, and insights from key informant interviews, to examine the context, perceptions and practices that affect quality and safety in the informal milk market in Tanzania. Our insights contribute to the potential for a more realistic and effective engagement with the informal sector, in Tanzania and beyond. Our results show that all informal market actors are concerned with milk quality and safety and take measures to mitigate risk. Loyalty and repeated interactions between buyers and sellers contribute to ensuring milk quality and safety in the absence of formal mechanisms such as testing. Despite this there is room for improvement. Informal actors expressed interest in training and finance to upgrade their premises and equipment and would also like to see improved communication with policymakers. Any future policy interventions should build on the indigenous practices being used by informal actors that already contribute to risk management. Efforts to better understand the informal sector and address the broader challenge of the lack of voice and representation of the informal sector in policy making in Tanzania are needed.

Who Owns Bogurar Doi? An Ethnography of Placemaking and Craftsmanship in Bangladesh

Through an ethnography of Bogurar doi, a sweetened fermented milk dessert distinctive to the northern region of Bangladesh, I propose to explore the politics of naming of a food item linked to a place, especially in a geography that has witnessed three historic redrawings of borders, forced migration, and the changing form of labor involved in doi-making. Instead of the narratives of continuity of craft traditions, I trace three significant “movements” (West 2022) that are integral to Bogurar doi: (1) a history of “local” breeds of cows is produced by confluences (Banerjee-Dube 2016), thereby challenging notions of territoriality and taste-making (Leong-Salobir, Ray, and Rohel 2016); (2) a history of labor integral to doi-making, that of Goalas/Ghoshs, evident in the fictional representation of undivided Bengal and legends associated with Bogurar doi; and (3) everyday narratives of “repetition” (Sennett 2008) that is inherent to bodily labor performed on milk to create this microbial product. These three movements show how placemaking evolves at the cusp of ecology and changing forms of caste and labor associated with the milk trade. Taken together, these three movements challenge the mythic notion of continuity and provide a much-needed reading of ruptures and a processual reading of decolonization of placemaking in food traditions.

Export competitiveness of milk and dairy products of the Republic of Srpska on the international market

The aim of this research is an analysis of the export competitiveness of the milk and dairy products of the Republic of Srpska on the international market. Indicators analysed in the paper are the net trade index (NTI) and the index of contribution to the trade balance (CTBI). Additionally, the paper investigates the type of external competitiveness of the milk and dairy products according to four criteria based on a comparison of export and import unit prices. All indicators have been calculated based on statistical data about the foreign trade of milk and dairy products and referred to the period 2015-2021. In the total export structure of the agri-food sector, milk and dairy products have significant participation in an average of 10.40%. CEFTA and EU countries as the major market destinations for milk and dairy products have recorded an average share of 20.30% and 4.81% in the total agri-food export of the Republic of Srpska. Unlike the EU countries, the analysis of the NTI showed the trade of milk and dairy products between the Republic of Srpska and the world as well as the CEFTA countries was competitive. The values calculated for the CTBI indicated positive contribution of milk and dairy products to the trade balance between the Republic of Srpska and the CEFTA countries as well as to the total trade balance. In trade with the EU these products showed comparative disadvantages. The results of the analysis based on the comparison of a unit of export and import prices indicated market segmentation of milk and dairy products into three parts: dominated price competitiveness in the world market, price and quality competitiveness in the CEFTA market, and predominantly price non-competitiveness on the EU market. The analysis of competitiveness type indicates the need for improvement of the export structure of the dairy sector towards favouring higher value-added products, especially on the EU market.

Food for thought: Transport within the food supply chain

Recently Hayden and Zunino Singh wrote in the Journal of Transport History of the greater need to study food movement. Whilst accepting their general premise, we argue that they downplay the fact that the evolution of logistics and supply chains has received sparse attention in the historical literature. Using case studies of the domestic British milk trade (1919–c.1945) and international quail trade ( c.1850–1914), we demonstrate how a concept originating in the study of modern supply chains – supply chain governance – can be illuminating. As a conceptual framework, this can facilitate the identification of key agents, institutions and goods movements within supply chains, and the nature of the relationships between them, whilst illuminating how change and development is shaped by regulation, economic cycles, consumer demand, and, of course, transport. The concept's application therefore presents a robust way to better understand the movement of goods in history.

First study on assessments of farmers' benefits under a payment program based on dairy milk quality in Thailand.

Background and Aim:To improve overall milk quality in Thailand, dairy farmers and milk collection centers employ a payment program based on milk quality (PPBMQ) for milk trade. This study aimed to determine and compare the proportion of dairy farmers receiving benefits from the PPBMQ using data from selected dairy cooperatives located in northern and central regions in Thailand.Materials and Methods:Monthly data on milk components (n=37,077), including fat, solids not fat (SNF), and somatic cell counts (SCC) were collected from the two regions in 2018 and 2019. Based on the PPBMQ, farmers were classified into benefit-gain, benefit-loss, and no-benefit groups. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to compare the number of farmers in northern and central regions who received monthly benefits from the PPBMQ.Results:More than 70% of dairy farmers benefited from the PPBMQ. The proportion of dairy farmers in the benefit-gain group was higher in the northern region (88.7%) than in the central region (57.1%). A high percentage of dairy farmers in the central region lost their benefits mainly due to SCC (40%) and SNF (44%).Conclusion:The PPBMQ benefited the vast majority of dairy producers in the northern region and approximately two-thirds of those in the central region. Thus, the efforts of authorities and stakeholders should be enhanced to support dairy farmers in the central region in improving milk quality.

FOREIGN TRADE OF MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The objective of the paper is to present foreign trade of milk and dairy products in the EU. Particular attention is paid to exports and imports of milk and dairy products in the EU and globally. Graphs and tabular and descriptive methods are used to analyze the changes in trade. The analysis of foreign trade focuses mainly on 2020; however, global export of selected dairy products was analyzed for the years 2000–2020. The survey shows the development of trade for milk and dairy products in the EU countries and the world.

Status of the buffalo milk trade and dairy manufacturing business at Bhola district of Bangladesh, and opportunities for buffalo milk products branding

The objective of this study was to know the existing buffalo milk trade and dairy products production status along with scope for buffalo milk product branding. Hence, a face-to-face interview with eighteen milk traders and processors were performed through simple random sampling method. Milk traders and processors were above 25 years old (94%) and above 5 years (89%) experienced in dairy business. The findings exposed that 11% of the participants were involved in milk collection and selling, 39% were directly involved in product manufacturing, and 50% were engaged in milk collection and processing. Among the manufactured dairy products, traditionally made fermented doi was the best - selling dairy product in the Bhola district. About 47% participants desired to incorporate fat-rich dairy products into their production processes. In general, milk traders sold the maximum amount of milk monthly to doi manufacturers (1453 L), followed by local customers (1175 L), sweetmeat manufacturers (1000 L), restaurants (257 L), and household consumers (250 L). Results showed that buffalo milk prices varied significantly (P<0.001) over the year. The peak buffalo milk price (122 BDT/L) was recorded between November and December, and the off-peak price (82 BDT/L) was between March to May. Data indicated that about 43-50 BDT profit derived through per kg doi and sweetmeat selling. Milk traders and processors mentioned that studied areas had greater shortage of milk preservation facilities. Overall, the findings of this study may give some context for developing sustainable buffalo milk and dairy products value chain in Bangladesh.
 Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(3): 301-310, December 2021

Fatty acid composition of drinking cow's milk trade networks of Kyiv

Introduction. There are several important aspects requiring a control of fatty acid composition in drinking milk distributed across the retail stores: milk is one of the main consumer products; fatty acids are the main energy substrates, involved in the synthesis of cellular structural components, whereas their interaction might impact the intensity of body growth and development; the fatty acid composition of milk varies depending on the diet and the animal's specific physiological state; in case of udder diseases, a change milk composition may occur; prevention of product counterfeiting distributed across the retail stores. 
 Material and methods. The present research examined milk samples from five dairy producers that distribute their products across the retailing chains in Kyiv. Milk samples were collected to determine the fatty acid composition. Milk fat was extracted following the Folch method. The milk fatty acid content assessment was carried out by gas chromatography. 
 Results. 20 fatty acids were identified in the tested milk samples. A higher level of saturated fatty acids was recorded in milk from "Ferma" and "Selyanskoye for kids" dairy producers. The highest content of unsaturated fatty acids was registered in products of “Ukrainskoe” and “Molokia” dairy trademarks. 
 Conclusions. The fatty acid composition of the drinking cow’s milk distributed across trading networks in Kiev was found to be heterogeneous, by differing in the content of both long-chain saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids.

Have Three Decades of Livestock Development of India Been Exposed to Threats in WTO Regime?

Despite constraints like rearing of livestock under sub optimal conditions due to low economic status of livestock owners, India has now become the largest producer of milk in the world. The development of Indian dairy sector is an unprecedented success story as it is based on millions of small producers. Government of India is making concerted efforts to raise the per capita availability of milk through increase in productivity of milch animals. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, assistance is being provided to the State Governments for controlling animal diseases, scientific management and upgradation of genetic resources, increasing availability of nutritious feeds and fodder, improving microbiological quality of milk, etc. The microbiological quality of milk is poor owing to inadequate knowledge of clean milk production and lack of post milking chilling facilities at the village level. In the present milieu, when production of dairy products to match international standards has become necessary to compete in international market of milk and milk products, steps need to be initiated to improve quality of Indian milk products with a view to boost export trade of these products in free trade regime and earn valuable foreign exchange as well as provide clean and quality milk to domestic population for their better health. Though India does not want to leave any stone unturned insofar as her presence in international trade of milk and milk products is concerned, the liberalisation of markets within the WTO framework, especially due to the export subsidies indulged in by OECD countries, now seen to be threatening the Indian dairy sector.

Evaluation of competitiveness of top-grades of ultrapasterized milk in the conditions of Covid-19

The UHT milk market in the Russian Federation is actively developing and belongs to a promis-ing direction of food industry. The UHT milk is a milk product that has undergone a process of heat treatment in which the milk is heated to a temperature of 137 0 C, and kept at that tempera-ture for 4 seconds before being cooled to room temperature. UHT milk retains almost all the ben-eficial properties of the original product, while it belongs to long-term storage goods and does not require the use of refrigeration equipment. The importance of the product has sharply in-creased during the quarantine imposed by the authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, there is a significant number of UHT milk brands on the consumer market, which leads to quite serious competition and necessitates studying the level of their competitiveness, especially for solving applied issues in the local geographic segment of the market. According to the author, today there is definitely a lack of comprehensive scientific methodological approaches to assessing the competitiveness and quality of UHT milk sold on the local market. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to assess the competitiveness and quality of UHT milk of various brands, presented on the market of Troitsk, Chelyabinsk region. The study assumes a complex methodology, which includes the following stages: 1) identification of the competitiveness of UHT milk by the index method of the ratio of prices and quality of the milk samples under study; 2) conducting a comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness of UHT milk brands presented in the local market, based on the primary marketing research of consumer preferences in this segment of the dairy market; 3) identification of the level of competitiveness of milk trade marks on the basis of the economic method, which assumes their ranking by trade volume. On the basis of the obtained data, it is concluded that the most competitive are the samples of trade marks «Dairy River» and «Dairy Farmer».

Why knowledge is the best way to reduce the risks associated with raw milk and raw milk products.

In an age of flexible conditions about mandatory milk pasteurisation, this opinion-based research reflection supports the view that the knowledge and the awareness of milk-borne infections are key requirements to decrease the risks associated with raw milk. Providing an analysis of the current potential risks related to consumption of raw milk and raw milk products, we discuss the main reasons to continue to be vigilant about milk-borne pathogens and the current scenario in relation to the formal and clandestine sale of raw milk. Finally, we select some highly effective strategies to reduce the risks associated with raw milk in food services. Regardless of whether a country regulation allows or prohibits the trade of raw milk and its products, this is not the time to be negligent.

Production of milk and dairy products in Ukraine: trends and prospects

The dairy industry is one of the important components of the food industry in Ukraine. Significant dynamic and structural changes in the procurement, processing and foreign trade of milk and dairy products have been observed in recent years. Further prospects for the development of the dairy industry are formed under the influence of a decrease in agricultural harvesting of milk, a decrease in the volume of deep processing of milk (production of butter and cheese), changes in foreign trade. It is important to study the current state of the dairy industry and identify trends in its further development. The tendencies of milk procurement by agricultural enterprises and households of Ukraine are investigated. Over the years milk production in agriculture has been dynamically diminishing, with a shift to entrepreneurial forms of dairy farming. It has been noted that the decrease in milk production volume in recent years has influenced the dynamics of industrial production of dairy products. In particular, in recent years the production of cheese and butter has decreased significantly, and milk production has been characterized by unstable trends. The general characteristics of Ukraine's foreign trade in milk and dairy products are presented. In recent years, the value of the export-to-import ratio has been positive for most dairy products. Over the last year (2018), exports of butter, condensed milk and cream, condensed milk and cream and whey prevailed in Ukraine. At the same time, they imported more cheese and butter, fermented or fermented milk and cream. The main part of the exported dairy products was export of butter and milk and cream condensed, imported mainly cheese. It is established that the main problem of the dairy industry today is the low level of milk production. Therefore, financial and investment processes should be stimulated to build farms and increase livestock production at enterprises to offset losses from reduced milk production by households. At the same time, it is necessary to encourage deep processing of milk, in particular the production of butter (main export product) and cheese (to avoid import dependence).

Minimum price policy impact in the Tunisian dairy sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a partial equilibrium model for the Tunisian dairy sector according to “quantity formulation” and “price formulation” and to show their equivalence under the assumption of perfect competition.Design/methodology/approachThis model incorporates domestic policies, that is, producers' price support and subsidies to milk collection centres and trade policies, that is, TRQ and ad valorem tariffs. The authors illustrate theoretically and numerically how to incorporate the minimum price policy at the farm level for the Tunisian dairy sector according to the price formulation approach.FindingsTwo scenarios for the removal of a minimum price policy are analysed and show that producers' surplus loss varies between 78.6 and 127.8 million dinars. The overall welfare implications of removing a minimum price policy are negative and range between 13.3 and 18.2 million dinars.Research limitations/implicationsThis study could not include all of the detailed factors in the Tunisian dairy sector.Originality/valueBased on the numerical results obtained in the study, the authors recommend that public authorities maintain the minimum price policy because it prevents a decrease in raw milk producers' surplus. Moreover, this policy is effective because it generates excess raw milk production, estimated at 28.23% in 2010, that can be used for various homemade dairy products. Under an effective minimum price policy, the formal processing sector absorbs all the excess raw milk only if the public authorities allocate grants to encourage investment in new milk collection centres and in milk drying equipment, especially in disadvantaged rural regions. The latter economic policy coupled with a minimum price policy not only guarantees a higher income for raw milk producers but also may represent a development factor for underprivileged rural areas.