Kieran Coughlan: Is dairy industry rationalisation on the cards as output drops?

Milk production expanded unabated as existing farmers built up their cow numbers to match their available grazing platforms and as new entrants expanded the milk pool.

The Irish dairy industry may face rationalisation in the year ahead if current trends continue.

Domestic milk intake by processors this year was down 242m litres by the end of June compared to this time last year with the month itself down 13.3m litres.