There is a large range in the prices paid across NI milk processors for December supplies, with a gap of over 4p/l between table-topping Tirlán/Fivemiletown and those at the foot of our monthly league.

A similar range in prices was apparent in the October 2025 league, although it could be partially explained by the fact some processors don’t pay a winter bonus that month.

However, in December, all processors make a 3p winter payment or as in the case of Dale Farm, support base price by 1p along with a 2p bonus.

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At the top of the December league, Tirlán has laid down a significant challenge to others by holding base price unchanged at 29.9p/l and committing to that price for the following two months.

Over the period, the co-op pays a 3p/l winter bonus, so it is a starting point of 32.9p/l.

Once adjustments are made for milk quality and volume, Tirlán paid 36.94p/l to a typical 750,000l producer in December, which when set against the current state of dairy markets, is a very strong price.

The December league is calculated at the NI average for milk solids recorded in the same month in 2024.

Back then butterfat averaged 4.36%, with protein at 3.40%. SCC was at 175 with TBC at 18.

Compared to the November league, both butterfat and protein are down marginally, however, milk quality in December is still well above the annual NI average.

Price cuts

Behind Tirlán, all other processors took prices down by between 1.75 and 2.5p/l.

Despite taking 2p/l off its base, Dale Farm remains in second with a final price paid of 34.84p/l.

That price includes an average payout across all suppliers of 0.70p/l under the co-op’s milk production realignment scheme and is after collection charges of 0.41p/l for a typical 750,000l producer in December are applied.

Aurivo implemented a lesser cut than most of its rivals, with a 1.75p/l deduction helping to ensure it has moved off the bottom of the table in November to now sit third.

Strathroy has held onto fourth position, with the Omagh processor taking its base price down by 2p/l. That leaves both Lakeland Dairies and Leprino Foods at the bottom of the table, after both companies cut base price by 2.5p/l.

Rolling average

Also shown as part of our analysis of prices paid to a typical 750,000l producer in NI is the average price paid by each processor during the 12-month period from January to December 2025.

Even though base prices have taken a hit since mid-summer, the average price paid in 2025 across all processors is still over 40p/l.

With Tirlán / Fivemiletown topping our milk league on six occasions during the year, it leads with an average of 42.16p/l. All positions are unchanged from last month.

Payout

Shown in Figure 1 is our estimate of the average payout made by each processor to a typical 750,000l producer with 8.6% of annual supply in December, but at the actual milk qualities reported by each company.

With the best milk solids and the highest base price, Tirlán is significantly ahead of other processors.

The positions are the same as in our main league comparison, except at the foot of the table where higher solids at Leprino Foods helps it leapfrog the total payout from Lakeland Dairies.