Improved global dairy commodity prices and a lift in first-half sales in the nutritional business have helped lift dairy processor Bega Cheese’s first-half net profit by 8.2 per cent. Excluding a $7.1 million inventory impairment related to its Bemore partnership – a 50/50 joint-venture with Blackmores to sell infant formula to China and Australia – Bega’s profit was up 39 per cent to $20.7 million.