U.S. Dairy Farms Produce More Nutrient-Dense Milk, Boosting Cheese Output Despite Production Decline
Source: The DairyNews
U.S. dairy farms have seen a significant evolution in milk composition over the past decade, enhancing the nutrient density of milk shipped across the country, according to Corey Geiger, the lead dairy economist at CoBank. Unlike the stable composition of crops like No. 2 yellow dent corn, the nutrient profile of milk has notably shifted, with butterfat levels reaching a record 4.11% in 2023, up from 3.71% in 2011.
This shift is largely driven by economic incentives under the multiple component pricing (MCP) system, which now covers about 92% of the U.S. milk supply. In 2023, butterfat alone accounted for 58% of milk check revenue, reflecting its growing value in the dairy market.
Despite a 0.4% drop in overall U.S. milk production in April 2024, as reported by the USDA, component yields tell a different story. In the same month, butterfat percentages rose from 4.08% in 2023 to 4.22% in 2024, while protein also saw a slight increase. These gains translate into a 2.2% increase in combined butterfat and protein production, amounting to an additional 31.3 million pounds of dairy solids.
This enhanced production of dairy components has supported a rise in U.S. cheese output, which grew by 1.8% year-over-year in April, setting a new record for the month. This is notable given that total milk production has been on the decline for ten consecutive months, marking a cumulative reduction of 1.381 billion pounds.
The increased nutrient density of milk allows for sustained, if not enhanced, dairy product output despite lower overall milk volumes.
Despite a 0.4% drop in overall U.S. milk production in April 2024, as reported by the USDA, component yields tell a different story. In the same month, butterfat percentages rose from 4.08% in 2023 to 4.22% in 2024, while protein also saw a slight increase. These gains translate into a 2.2% increase in combined butterfat and protein production, amounting to an additional 31.3 million pounds of dairy solids.
This enhanced production of dairy components has supported a rise in U.S. cheese output, which grew by 1.8% year-over-year in April, setting a new record for the month. This is notable given that total milk production has been on the decline for ten consecutive months, marking a cumulative reduction of 1.381 billion pounds.
The increased nutrient density of milk allows for sustained, if not enhanced, dairy product output despite lower overall milk volumes.
