With processors making no changes to their April milk price, Aurivo has climbed to the top of the milk league having been placed in second position for March.

The company held its base at 25.5p/l, but with milk solids rising month on month, suppliers are benefitting from the improved bonus payments that the co-op introduced last October. The prices in the April milk league are based on a 650,000-litre producer with typical seasonal supply. Milk quality has increased to an average of 4.11% butterfat, while protein has also improved to 3.31%. Lactose is set at 4.75% with TBC at 16 and SCC of 205.

Based on these figures Aurivo suppliers received an average farmgate price of 26.58p/l for both alternate-day and everyday collection, up 0.5p/l on the previous month.

It is tight at the top of the table with just 0.02p/l separating the top four places in the April league. In joint second position are Fivemiletown and Glanbia Milk, climbing two places from last month. They remain on an all-in base price of 25.5p/l which includes their 0.6p/l year-round “Fermanagh” bonus. When milk quality adjustments are applied, their average farmgate price comes to 26.57p/l.

Dale Farm drops to fourth position, having topped the league for March. Like Aurivo, it held its base price at 25.5p/l for April. When milk quality adjustments, and its 0.3p/l loyalty bonus are added to the base, it brings Dale Farm to an average of 26.56p/l for alternate-day collection.

Climbing one place to fifth position is Glanbia Cheese with an average price of 26.47p/l. The Magheralin-based processor held its base price at 25.25p/l, which has been the case since January.

LacPatrick has slipped three places down the table to sixth position for its Red Tractor milk, which averaged 26.44p/l. Indications are that the majority of LacPatrick’s milk pool now qualifies for Red Tractor status.

LacPatrick’s non Red Tractor milk slipped one place to eighth position with an average price of 26.24p/l on alternate-day collection.

After holding its base price at 25p/l, Lakeland climbs one position to seventh place.

After milk quality payments are applied, it had an average price of 26.42p/l for alternate-day collection, and allowing for a recent decision to drop collection charges from 1 April.

Like Lakeland and LacPatrick, Strathroy held its base at 25p/l but it remains at the bottom of the league.

When milk quality payments are factored in, Strathroy paid an average price of 26.06p/l to Red Tractor suppliers with standard milk suppliers on 25.86p/l.

Across all milk buyers, alternate-day milk price in April averaged 26.38p/l, up 0.27p/l from the previous month’s price of 26.11p/l.