Increasing feed prices and lower milk prices are expected to affect British milk yields in early 2019, the AHDB has said.

December milk production in Britain is likely to be over of 1,040m litres when figures are finalised.

“That would be the highest December figure for more than 20 years and 8m litres above last year,” the AHDB forecast reads.

“Our current expectation is that production will move closer in line with last year as we head through January, with increasing downward pressure on milk yields. As such, we have reduced our forecasts for February and March, and 2018/19 in total is currently expected to come out in line with 2017/18.”

GB milk production.

The milking herd is expected to be around 1.6% smaller in spring this year compared with last year.

However, better yields and normal weather conditions would mean that the production yield would be slightly ahead of 2018.

“Later in the year, the profile of the milk forecast is impacted by historic insemination decisions and shifting calving patterns, with April to September 2019 expected to be slightly ahead of the same period last year.”

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