Weather conditions meant that UK milk production dropped in May.
According to DairyCo heavy rainfall across a large part of the nation affected both the dry matter intake and the grazing rate of cattle. Although production in May was 8% higher than May 2013, at 1,333m litres, monthly production was lower than May 2002 and 2003, the last occasions that year-to-date production figures were at a similar level.
Looking forward, the Met Office has forecast drier spells for the summer so the likelihood of another 2012 is reducing. However, as ever, weather is very unpredictable and so conditions in the coming months will be important to how total-year production ends up.