U.S. Milk Production Up Just 0.1%

The United States Department of Agriculture reported this week that November milk production was up just 0.1% in the United States. Dairy cow numbers actually dropped to 9.198 million head, the first time in 13 months the number has fallen below 9.2 million.

Thirteen of the 23 major dairy states reported the same or negative numbers for milk production per cow in November. As a result, nine of the top 23 states reported less milk production in November this year compared to year earlier numbers. The other four states made up less milk per cow by milking more cows.

Of the top five dairy states, California was +0.6% in milk production on the strength of 1,000 more cows. Wisconsin was -0.6% in total production. Cow numbers remained steady, but milk per cow dropped 30 lb.

Idaho took a double hit, with cow numbers down 8,000 head and milk per cow down 10 lb. So November production dropped 1.8% over November 2012.

New York was up 2.1% on the strength of 35 lb. more milk per cow. Pennsylvania milk production was down 0.2% as cow numbers dipped 3,000 head. You can read the full report here. 

In its monthly dairy cow slaughter report, 249,000 cows were sent through federally inspected plants in November. That’s down 20,000 head (7.4%) from a year ago, and down 28,000 head (10%) from October 2013.

Cow slaughter on a day of operation basis also is down. In November 2012, 13,450 cows were slaughtered per day of operation. In October 2013, that number fell to 12,043. And in November 2013, the number dipped to 11,857.

You can read the full report here.
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/LiveSlau/LiveSlau-12-19-2013.pdf