Snowfall brought in by the beast from the east at the start of the month left an estimated 19m litres of milk uncollected in UK.

Figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) milk deliveries survey show the worst affected days were 1 and 2 March. During those two days alone approximately 15m litres of milk were left uncollected.

The impact was fairly localised. Dairy processor Müller, told theIrish Farmers Journal that 96% of its normal milk volumes were collected during the snow.

However, AHDB said that in terms of milk collections, this was one of the worst weather-related short-term impacts seen in recent years.

The loss of milk was around three times the level suffered during the adverse weather in January 2010.

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