Canadian Dairy Statistics Fourth Quarter 2008

Canadian milk production levels for 2008 was lower than the previous year. Similarly, cheese and butter production decreased and sales fell, say figures from Statistics Canada.

22 February 2009

4 minute read

Highlights

For the 12 month period ending December 31, 2008 Canadian requirements were 49.92 million hectoliters as determined by the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee (CMSMC).
Canadian milk producers sold 3.1 million kilolitres of milk and cream to dairies during the first five months of 2008-2009 dairy year, down 2.0 per cent from last year.
Industrial milk sales, which accounted for 58.6 per cent of all milk sold, totalled 1.82 million kilolitres.
Fluid milk sales, at 1.29 million kilolitres, were 0.7 per cent above year-ago levels.
Canadian consumers purchased 1.26 million kilolitres of milk and cream during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year, 1.2 per cent less from the same period of the 2007-2008 dairy year.
Sales of 2 per cent milk, the most popular, were slightly lower at 523 thousand kilolitres. Sales of 1 per cent milk and skim milk both increased slightly, at 254 thousand kilolitres and 121 thousand kilolitres respectively. Sales of standard (homogenized) milk at 158 thousand kilolitres declined 3.3 per cent.
Total cream sales, at 120 thousand kilolitres, decreased 3.1 per cent from year-ago levels.
Butter production decreased during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year to 29.5 thousand tonnes from 31.0 thousand tonnes a year ago.
Total production of variety and cheddar cheese decreased during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year from last year levels.
Variety cheese production decreased to 91.4 thousand tonnes from 100.2 thousand tonnes last year while cheddar cheese production, at 61.4 thousand tonnes, increased 2.0 per cent from the same period last year.

Introduction

This publication provides a statistical summary on the dairy industry in Canada and the provinces for current and previous calendar years.

Data include monthly, as well as year-to-date information, on farm sales of milk and cream for fluid and industrial purposes, cash receipts from milk and cream sold off farms, production, stocks, and supply and disposition of creamery butter, cheddar cheese and other dairy products and by-products. Data series are available on a historic basis since 1920.

This publication, Dairy Statistics, provides statistical information on the dairy products industry at national and provincial levels. Through co-operation between provincial departments of agriculture, milk marketing boards and Statistics Canada, dairy statistics are collected, compiled, disseminated and analyzed on a monthly basis.

Information on the volume of milk and cream sold off farms and commercial sales of fluid milk and cream by dairies are used by governments and provincial marketing boards in calculating provincial market sharing quota allotment and skim-off credit. These data are also important as an indicator of changes in the supply-managed dairy industry, a major contributor to total farm cash receipts.

Analysis

Canadian requirements

For the 12 month period ending December 31, 2008 Canadian requirements were 49.92 million hectoliters as determined by the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee (CMSMC).

Canadian requirements, which are calculated by the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), represent the total demand for industrial milk and cream and are the basis for establishing national Market Sharing Quota (MSQ).

Off-farm sales to dairies below last year’s level

Canadian milk producers sold 3.1 million kilolitres of milk and cream to dairies during the first five months of 2008-2009 dairy year, down 2.0% from last year. Industrial milk sales, which accounted for 58.6% of all milk sold, totalled 1.82 million kilolitres. Fluid milk sales, at 1.29 million kilolitres, were 0.7% above year-ago levels.

Total sales of milk and cream by dairies decreased

Canadian consumers purchased 1.26 million kilolitres of milk and cream during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year, 1.2% less from the same period of the 2007-2008 dairy year. Sales of 2% milk, the most popular, were slightly lower at 523 thousand kilolitres. Sales of 1% milk and skim milk both increased slightly, at 254 thousand kilolitres and 121 thousand kilolitres respectively. Sales of standard (homogenized) milk at 158 thousand kilolitres declined 3.3%. Total cream sales, at 120 thousand kilolitres, decreased 3.1% from year-ago levels.

Butter production below last year’s level

Butter production decreased during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year to 29.5 thousand tonnes from 31.0 thousand tonnes a year ago.

Total cheese production lower

Total production of variety and cheddar cheese decreased during the first five months of the 2008-2009 dairy year from last year levels. Variety cheese production decreased to 91.4 thousand tonnes from 100.2 thousand tonnes last year while cheddar cheese production, at 61.4 thousand tonnes, increased 2.0% from the same period last year.