Feed Price Hikes Push Raw Milk Production Cost to 28.50 TL Per Liter

September 9, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

TÜSEDAD stated that the hot raw milk production cost in August reached 28.50 TL per liter due to increases in concentrated feed and fuel prices, urging the National Milk Council to update its reference price.

Milk Production Costs Increased in August

The Cost Commission of the All Milk, Meat and Breeding Cattle Breeders Association (TÜSEDAD) announced the hot raw milk production cost for August as 28.50 TL per liter. A monthly increase of 1.63 TL was recorded in the production cost, which was 26.87 TL in July. According to the association's data, the increase in concentrated feed prices, approximately 11%, was the decisive factor in the rise of costs. Following the cost table, which directly reflected fuel price hikes, a revision of the raw milk reference price set by the National Milk Council was requested.

Input Prices and Inflationary Pressure

The TÜSEDAD report stated that there was a 4.5% increase in the prices of culled cows and heifers, but this income did not cover the feed price hikes. While preventive veterinary medicine and health expenditures were updated according to inflationary conditions, fuel was calculated at 78 TL/liter and electricity at 4 TL/kWh among input items. The milk premium support for farms was 0.56 TL/liter, and the calf premium support was 3,019 TL/head. The association requested a detailed breakdown of the Council's cost calculations, with the gross minimum wage set at 33,030 TL and cooling costs at 1.80 TL/liter.

Eight-Month Cost Trend and NMC

According to TÜSEDAD's calculations, the hot milk cost per liter was 25.37 TL in January, 27.64 TL in February, 28.13 TL in March, 28.35 TL in April, 27.31 TL in May, 26.97 TL in June, 26.87 TL in July, and 28.50 TL in August. During the same period, the National Milk Council announced its August cost as 21.48 TL/liter and its reference price as 24.30 TL/liter. The association requested transparent disclosure of the cost items in the Council's model for farms with 10 heads or more, breeding replacement costs, and calf sales periods.

Farm Model and Ration Expenses

The cost calculation in question was based on a farm with 100 Holstein dairy cows and a daily yield of 30 liters. The model used 390 cow-days, a 60-day dry period, a cow cost of 250,000 TL, a 20% culling rate, and a 5% cow mortality rate. Ration costs included alfalfa hay at 11.81 TL/kg, corn silage at 4.44 TL/kg, grass hay at 9.71 TL/kg, straw at 4.65 TL/kg, and barley at 12.98 TL/kg. Milk feed with 21% protein was recorded at 20.76 TL/kg, and milk feed with 19% protein was at 21.08 TL/kg.

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