The latest figures from Eurostat show a sharp decline in milk production in a number of large dairy-producing regions of Europe during the month of October.

In the Netherlands, October milk production stood at a little under 1.1bn litres, which is a decline of almost 6% on the same month last year.

Recent figures also show that Dutch milk production for November was down 7% on last year at 1bn litres. To illustrate the extent of the cull in the Dutch dairy herd in the second half of 2018, Dutch dairy farmers have produced a massive 220m litres less milk from August to November compared with the same period last year.

Dutch milk production is on track to be down more than 3% for the entirety of 2018.

In Germany, the largest dairy producer in Europe, October milk production was back almost 1% to 2.5bn litres.

In neighbouring France, October milk production saw a big decline of more than 3% compared with last year to just under 1.9bn litres.

Offsetting these declines, there was milk production growth in the UK, Poland and Ireland.

In the UK, dairy farmers pumped out 1.2bn litres of milk in October, which is up 0.5% on the same month last year.

Polish milk production for October was up 3% at 935m litres, while, in Ireland, October milk production was up a massive 20% on last year at 640m litres. It’s important to note Ireland was hit by Storm Ophelia in October 2017.