The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) announced on Wednesday that milk production in Türkiye decreased by 0.9% in July compared to the same month of the previous year.

The amount of cow's milk collected by dairy enterprises was 835,773 tons in July, down from 866,632 tons in June.

The decrease in milk production was driven by a decline in drinking milk production, which fell by 19.8% in July compared to the previous year.

Other dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and yoghurt, saw production increases in July. Cheese production from cow's milk increased by 16.0%, butter production increased by 16.0%, and yoghurt production increased by 14.4%.

The TurkStat attributed the decrease in milk production to a number of factors, including the high temperatures in July, which can stress dairy cows and reduce their milk production. The TurkStat also noted that the drought in Türkiye has reduced the availability of forage for dairy cows.

Despite the decrease in milk production in July, the TurkStat said that overall milk production in Turkey is expected to be higher in 2023 than in 2022. The TurkStat forecast that milk production in Turkey will reach 14.5 billion liters in 2023, up from 14.2 billion liters in 2022.

The decrease in milk production in July is a concern for the Turkish dairy industry, as it could lead to higher prices for dairy products. The Turkish government is considering measures to support the dairy industry, such as providing subsidies to dairy farmers. (ILKHA)