Heifer Supply and Global Dairy Demand Remain Flat Heading into 2024

Dairy replacement heifer trade has been light nationwide. Similarly, global dairy trade has been on the decline. Will the trend continue as we head into 2024?
Dairy replacement heifer trade has been light nationwide. Similarly, global dairy trade has been on the decline. Will the trend continue as we head into 2024?
(Taylor Leach)

Dairy replacement heifer trade was light nationwide through December with altered holiday sale schedules. As a whole, average Holstein heifer springer price for the 4 reported markets was practically identical between year-end 2022 and 2023, at about $1,700 per head. Also in the “steady-but-uninspired” category for year-end 2023: global dairy demand. On the monthly Forecast Update Live podcast by Ever.Ag, Phil Plourd, President of Ever.Ag Insights, observed weak notes around dairy demand worldwide. “Until we see global demand get some traction, it’s hard to believe that these markets can get a lot higher,’ Plourd stated.  Meanwhile, beef-cross calves remain the runaway dairy market story of the year. As an example, Holstein heifer calves in Pennsylvania averaged $50-90/head in the past month. Their beef-cross heifer counterparts were 7 to more than 10 times higher at $460-685/head.


 

Springing Heifers

 Heifer Calves

Location (sale date)

Supreme/Top

Approved/Medium

90-120 pounds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turlock, Calif. (12-15-23)

No test

 $1,300-1,625

-

 

 

 

Reedsville, Wis. (12-7-23)

$1,200-1,800

$900-1,150

$50-70

 

 

 

Pipestone, Minn. (12-21-23)

$2,350-2,600

      $2,200-2,350

       No test

 

 

 

New Holland, Pa. (11-29-23)

$1,925-2,300

$1,950-2,025

       $50-90

Tags

Dairy - General Beef on Dairy Replacements Milk Prices
 

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