The domestic milk intake was up 3.7% in October 2014 compared with figures for October 2013.

The latest CSO figures show creameries and pasteurisers took in an estimated 433.6m litres of domestic milk for October 2014.

However the total milk sold for human consumption was down 1.2% to 40m litres in October 2014 compared with October 2013. Butter production was also down 5.2% to 13,400 tonnes.

The total domestic milk intake so far for 2014, from January to October, is 5,277.8m, which is up 5.9% on figures for the same period last year.