Study on Milk and Dairy Products Consumers Preferences in Timis and Caras-Severin Counties from Romania

Abstract

Following the elimination of the EU milk quota system in dairy cattle, starting 2015, this has raised a great number of questions and concerns regarding the future of the dairy sector. Aim of the current research was to evaluate milk and dairy derived consumer’s behaviour and preferences in Timis and Caras-Severin counties from Western Romania, in order to be able to further formulate advice and strategies to both farmers, farm-advisors and policy makers. Data was collected following questionnaire based-interviews, between January and June 2016. There were 202 persons who answered a face-to-face interview, and had to answer to a 15 questions based questionnaire. The main six categories of products purchased were raw fresh milk (13.45%), yogurts (16.42%), sour cream (15.51%), butter (13.00%) and cheeses (19.84%). Out of the respondents, 60.95% preferred cow milk and derived products, 19.68% sheep milk and derived products, 12.38% goat milk and derived products and 6.98% buffalo milk and derived products. Findings of the current study could help both dairy farmers and dairy factories to come up with new products and also in the decision making process when changing the type of products, and also to find new ways to increase their sales, and the overall enterprise economic returns.

Keywords

• cattle
• dairy sector
• goats
• raw milk
• sheep