The European Union is subsidizing a project with 5.5 million euros to produce an alternative to milk protein without cows. A Finnish company, a German and Dutch university and a Swiss company are working together in this Hydrocow project. The intention is that no raw materials from agriculture are used.

Swiss research shows that tannin-containing sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and acacia extract (Acacia mearnsii) reduce nitrogen excretion via the urine and the release of ammonia from the liquid manure. Condensed tannins bind to the crude protein in the feed and slow down its rate of breakdown in the rumen, shifting the route of N excretion from urine to faeces and reducing the NH3-releasing potential of the excretions. The feeding of sainfoin silage reduced the digestibility of organic matter compared to the feeding of grass and clover silage. Acacia extract reduced the feed intake and the digestibility of the organic matter in all investigated silage types and also the milk yield. However: the feeding of acacia extract reduced the release of ammonia from the liquid manure by up to 37 percent.

Italian producers of Parmesan cheese want to counter the risk of origin fraud by placing a microchip in the cheese rind.

Bulgarian yogurt with special cultures has got a protected designation of origin (PDO).

In Germany in August 2023 compared to July 2023 the raw material or compound value of milk at farm decreased 1.0 eurocent to 34.3 eurocent per kilogram milk with 4.0 percent fat and 3.4 percent protein (exclusive VAT). This is 25.1 eurocent less than in the same month one year before. The highest future price of milk for the next 18 months on the Kieler Börsenmilchwert European Energy Exchange is the price for February and March 2025 at 46.1 eurocent. The lowest future price is the price for September 2023 at 35.3 eurocent.

In Germany Greenpeace want a change in dairy farming. According to Greenpeace the position of dairy farmers to dairy processing companies should be strengthened through contracts for quantity and quality. This should result in higher and stable milk prices and less overproduction. Legal minimum standards for walking and lying areas, exercise and available pasture should improve animal welfare and reduce the use of medicines, according to Greenpeace.

An international analyses by the Belgian ILVO institute shows that Flemish dairy farmers produce milk with the worldwide lowest emission of greenhouse gasses: 0.99 kilogram CO2 equivalents per kilogram milk.

The Belgian dairy cooperative Milcobel will try to get 100 million kilogram from new members to use for the production of mozzarella. For this Milcobel is also trying to acquire new members in northern France where Milcobel has members already.

In Belgium research by the Flemish ILVO institute shows that investing in measures to limit heat stress can yield dairy farmers up to 35 euros per cow per year. Especially ventilators in combination with misting reduced stress and prevented a reduction in milk production.

In Belgium research by the Flemish ILVO institute shows that cows that get less concentrate feed after 80 days in lactation use this more efficiently. Cows that got 1 kilogram of concentrate per 1.7 kilogram of extra milk and heifers that got 1.6 kilogram of concentrate per extra kilogram of milk were compared with 1 kilogram of concentrate per 3 kilogram of extra milk. With cows this did not result in a lower milk production, fat or protein content. In heifers it did. However: other effects, such as fitness, health and fertility, were not considered.

In Belgium of the cows that in 2022 participated in milk production control average production in the northern part Flanders was as following: Black and white Holstein Friesian: 59125 cows in 345 days 910758 kilogram milk with 4.22 percent fat and 3.49 percent protein. Red and white: 11102 cows in 347 days 9598 kilogram milk with 4.44 percent fat and 3.58 percent protein. Montbéliarde: 944 cows in 351 days 7537 kilogram milk with 4.02 percent fat and 3.47 percent protein. In the southern part Wallonia: Black and white Holstein Friesian: 30104 cows in 354 days 9517 kilogram milk with 4.12 percent fat and 3.39 percent protein. Red and white: 4557 cows in 353 days 8616 kilogram milk with 4.18 percent fat and 3.43 percent protein. Montbéliarde: 944 cows in 351 days 7537 kilogram milk with 4.02 percent fat and 3.47 percent protein. Normande: 289 cows in 333 days 6930 kilogram milk with 4.08 percent fat and 3.54 percent protein. Over the past ten years, the number of cows that participated in milk production control increased by six percent in Flanders, while it decreased by 25 percent in Wallonia. Source: StatBel

In Holland next year combating Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) on cattle farms will become a legal obligation from July 1, 2024. Until now control has been voluntary. Last year 53.4 percent of dairy farms participating in the voluntary IBR control program had the IBR-free status, 24.6 percent had the IBR-unsuspected status and 16.5 percent vaccinated. Of the dairy farms participating in the voluntary BVD control program, 85.9 percent had the status of BVD-free or BVD-unsuspected.

In Holland the dairy cooperative Rouveen, which is specialized in special cheeses is developing a vegan cheese.

In Holland the furniture dealer IKEA no longer in its restaurants offers cow milk for drinking. Oat milk for drinking is fully available in IKEA restaurants.

In Holland in the political debate about reducing the number of cattle and other livestock to reduce ammonia emissions it appears that on the northern island Terschelling despite the fact that the number of dairy cows was reduced by 40 percent a few years ago ammonia emissions have not been reduced. Dairy cows are the only source of ammonia emissions on the island.

In Holland an analysis by Alfa Accountant shows that the most intensive (non-organic) dairy farms do not realize the highest balance. Farms with less than 15000 kilograms of milk production per hectare had 0.3 eurocent per kilogram of milk higher feed costs than farms with 15000 to 18000 kilograms of milk per hectare. This last group of farms had the lowest feed costs. These farms also achieved the highest feed profit: 5.93 euros per 100 kilograms of milk. On the most intensive farms with more than 25000 kilograms of milk per hectare this was 3.45 euros per 100 kilograms of milk.