An escalation of bluetongue cases in British dairy herds could add to the existing downward pressure on milk yields, the UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has warned.
It comes of the back of heat stress already suppressing milk output from cows.
Bluetongue is currently active in Devon and Cornwall, with the AHDB stating it “remains a key watchpoint for the domestic herd”.
Daily milk deliveries in Britain in July averaged 33.28m litres and totalled an estimated 1.032bn litres, a reduction of 34m litres (-3.2%) compared to the previous year.
The AHDB said that this brings milk year to date (April–July) supplies for Britain to 2% below 2025 levels.
“The most recent week of data (week ending 1 August) showed a 4.5% decline on year-ago levels, finishing just below the five-year average,” it said.
Heatwave
The Met Office recorded the driest and sunniest July on record for England and Wales, with 71% of England now in drought, it added.
“This is likely a leading factor in the continued fall in milk volumes, as high heat stress suppresses yields.
“The weather has also cut forage production, with grass availability in a critical position for much of Britain, prompting livestock farmers to begin feeding silage earlier due to poor grazing. This compounds the input-cost pressures already facing the industry, squeezing margins further,” it said.
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