Milk production per cow is increasing

Although the number of dairy cows has decreased since the nineties, the falling trend has decelerated during the last decade. At the same time the average milk production per cow has increased every year during the last eight years.

On 31 December 2010, the number of cattle in Estonia amounted to 236,200 (of which 95,700 dairy cows); there were 373,000 pigs, and 85,000 sheep and goats. Compared to the previous year, the number of cattle (incl. dairy cows) did not change significantly. At the same time the number of pigs increased by 2%; the number of sheep and goats by 6%.

In 2010, the agricultural producers of Estonia produced 675,700 tons of milk and 184.5 million eggs. 110,400 tons (live weight) of livestock and poultry were slaughtered in holdings or sold for slaughter to meat processing enterprises. Compared to the previous year, milk production remained at the same level, egg production increased by 6% and meat production (live weight) decreased by 2%.

In 2010, the average milk production per cow was 6,977 kilograms, i.e. 139 kilograms more than in 2009.

The livestock purchased by meat processing enterprises gave 8,600 tons of beef and 29,200 tons of pork. In 2009, the corresponding indicators were 9,100 tons and 28,100 tons.

Milk processing enterprises purchased 603,900 tons of milk, in 2009 — 612,300 tons. 277 euros were paid for a ton of purchased milk, in 2009 – 210 euros.

Milk production per cow, 1994–2010