Chilean Dairymen Achieve Record Production for 2012
CHILE – Milk production broke records in 2012 after rising by 2.3 per cent on 2011, a Ministry of Agriculture report has revealed.The increase reached 2,435 million litres, which the government called a satisfactory figure given the challenging production conditions experienced through much of the growing season.
La Nina, a coupled ocean-atmosphere weather phenomenon, brought excess heat and drier conditions to much of Chile, particularly the dairy farming areas which suffered with poor grass growth.
Nevertheless, processor deliveries were up. Most dairies reported purchase expansion with the Ministry reporting a 15 per cent rise in liquid milk put into cheese production – 316 million litres of milk.
Cheese output rose to 26,000 tons, fresh cheese production exceeded 12,500 tons.
The processor with the greatest market share was the Milk Cooperative Union (Colun) with 487.3 million litres for the year at 23 per cent of the market.
Soprole dairy came second, boasting a 5.2 per cent rise in deliveries which lifted market share to 22.1 per cent.
Deliveries to Nestle rose 11.5 per cent last year making it the third biggest buyer with 22 per cent of the industry.
TheCattleSite News Desk