Jane Bennett, of Elizabeth Town's Ashgrove Dairy and Lyndall Healey, of Pyengana Dairy, yesterday reported spikes in sales, particularly in Southern Tasmania, where their brands were less well-known.

Ms Bennett said Ashgrove had grown from three to 17 outlets in Hobart in two months.

Mrs Healey said Pyengana might need to employ extra staff if the sales spike continued.

Traditionally a cheesemaker, Ashgrove was the latest dairy to enter what is called the liquid milk market, 18 months ago.

Milking 800 cows, twice a day, Ashgrove is also making butter and ice- cream using dairy equipment bought second-hand in Lismore, NSW.

Pyengana started selling milk 13 years ago as a cash flow product to offset the 18 months it takes for cheese to mature ready for sale.

Ms Bennett said liquid milk was a tough business.

"We have spent most of our lives in the genteel work of making cheese. Liquid milk is different - it is cut throat - the big players are very aggressive," Ms Bennett said.

She said the smaller players were getting fantastic support from Ron Barker at Tasmanian Independent Retailers and smaller businesses like the Trevallyn supermarket and Davies Grand Central in Launceston.

Mrs Healey said most of Pyengana's milk from the 175 head of friesian cows was also selling solidly in the South.

"There's a definite spike. Sales are well up," Mrs Healey said.

"We won't compromise our cheesemaking, but we are taking a little milk to increase our supply," she said.

Extra staff might be needed if the demand continues, she said.

While not wanting to say exactly how many more litres a day the farm is selling, Mrs Healey said the uptake of their milk was a bonus.

"We didn't see it coming and we plan to enjoy it while it lasts," she said.

Davies Grand Central proprietor Lynne Davies said there was strong support for the local dairies, including Betta Milk at Burnie.

"We only have Betta which is a farmers co-op at Burnie with milk from Ashgrove, Pyengana and Elgaar Farm (near Deloraine) to support Tasmanian producers.

"We have our regular customers and new sales. Tasmanians support Tasmanians," Mrs Davies said.