Dairy Output Above Last Year

WASHINGTON - Apr 4/06 - SNS -- Dairy product output experienced a month over month decline in the United States in February, but remained well above year earlier levels for several product categories, according to the latest USDA report on the sector.

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 719 million pounds, 1.6% above February 2005 but 7.0% below January 2006.

Italian type cheese production totaled 307 million pounds, up 1.9% February 2005 but 6.4% below January 2006. American type cheese production totaled 303 million pounds, 3.3% above February 2005 but 6.7% below January 2006.

Butter production was 134 million pounds, 18.1% above February 2005 but 9.0% below January 2006.

Frozen dessert: (comparisons with February 2005): Ice cream, Regular (hard) --- 62.9 million gallons, down 2.0%; Ice cream, Lowfat (total) --- 25.1 million gallons, down 10.6%; Ice cream, Nonfat (hard) --- 1.28 million gallons, down 20.8%; Sherbet (hard) --- 4.24 million gallons, up 3.0%; and Frozen Yogurt (total) --- 4.62 million gallons, up 3.7%.

Nonfat dry milk for human food: (compared with February 2005) --- 117 million pounds, up 24.1%.

Dry whey products: (comparisons with February 2005): Dry whey, human --- 80.8 million pounds, up 9.1%; Dry whey, animal --- 5.30 million pounds, down 8.5%; and Dry whey, total --- 86.1 million pounds, up 7.8%.

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