Better farmgate milk prices and less attractive carcass prices have led to a stabilisation in the number of dairy farms in the UK, according to AHDB.

Since the last AHDB survey in April, the number of dairy farms has fallen by just 30 units. This figure confirms the improved sentiment in the dairy market as the vast majority of farms remain in the sector.  

In October 2024, there were 7,200 milk producers in the UK. This means that the number of farms has fallen by only 300, or 4%, in a year (from October 2023).

AHDB data shows that most farms exited the market as recently as last winter, and better milk prices are encouraging farmers to stay on the commercial side of the business.

On average, each dairy farm in the UK produces around 1.7 million kg of raw milk.