Following the culling of nearly a quarter million cows in January, the U.S. dairy herd currently sits at 9.435 million head – the largest national herd size since August 2021. That growth gap is likely being filled largely with springing heifers, particularly in the growing Plains states. Thus Pipestone, Minn. posted this month’s highest springer prices, topping out at $2,250/head. California and Wisconsin, both states with shrinking total dairy herds, showed springer values less than half of that. Holstein heifer calves saw little test, but values in Pennsylvania were more than double those in Wisconsin.
| Springing Heifers | Heifer Calves | |
Location (sale date) | Supreme/Top | Approved/Medium | 90-120 pounds |
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Turlock, Calif. (3-31-23) | $1,400-1,675 | $1,200-1,375 | - |
Lomira, Wis. (4-20-23) | $1,200-1,700 | $900-1,150 | $40-50 |
Pipestone, Minn. (4-20-23) | $2,025-2,250 | $1,900-2,025 | No test |
New Holland, Pa. (4-26-23) | $1,600-1,950 | $1,050-1,450 | $100-175 |
