Higher EU milk output expected

MOST EU countries expect their milk output to increase significantly if, as expected, milk quotas are eliminated in 2015.

Based on current cow numbers and fodder availability, without extra investments in cows and buildings, and assuming no milk price changes, dairy farmers and co-operatives expect 15% to 20% more milk to be produced in Denmark; 20% more in the Netherlands, 10% more in Belgium, 15% more in France, 10% more in Italy, 10% more in the Czech Republic, 25% more in Slovakia, 10 to 20% more in Hungary, 25% more in Latvia, and by a small percentage in Germany.

However, these early predictions are subject to the changing trends in the EU milk supply, demand and price, and in feed costs.