Processing

Did you know?

85% of Irish milk production is exported across the world in various dairy products
Ireland produces enough milk to feed 52 million people
Ireland has a rich history in the dairy sector. Operating between 1770 and 1925, the Cork butter market was, at its peak, the largest butter export market in the world.
The Irish co-operative movement spawned by Sir Horace Plunkett started with the formation of village creameries converting milk into butter in the 1890s

In this section we look at how we process and manufacture milk products in Ireland.

Milk to dairy products calculator
Self-sufficiency in milk production
Energy consumption - Irish dairy plant

Milk to dairy products calculator

So, what does your milk produce?

How much milk do you produce in one year Calculate

A

Tonnes of Butter

Tonnes of Skimmed Milk Powder

Tonnes of Butter Milk Powder

B

Tonnes of Whole Milk Powder

C

Tonnes of cheese

Tonnes of Whey Powder

Self-sufficiency in milk production

Ireland: 370
Denmark: 225
Holland: 140
Estonia: 130
France: 125
Luxembourg: 125
Germany: 120
Lithuania: 120
Poland: 110
Slovakia: 110
Latvia: 110
Austria: 110
EU Median: 101

Energy consumption - Irish dairy plant

Carbery Plant

57% of electrical energy used in Irish milk manufacturing plants is generated onsite (primarily from Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants).
Most of the thermal energy produced at Irish milk manufacturing plants is sourced from three main fuel sources: natural gas (69%), fuel oil (20%) and coal (8.7%)

Carbery Plant

According to studies conducted by Enterprise Ireland energy consumption in Irish manufacturing milk plants was reduced by 20% per plant between 2006 and 2009. When measured relative to tonne of product manufactured, we see a 16% reduction in energy use per tonne of product produced. Irish milk manufacturing plants have also reduced annual water consumption by 20% between 2005 and 2009.