U.S. Milk Production Dips 0.5%, Cows Decrease by 44,000 Year-Over-Year
Sourse: The DairyNews
The U.S. milk production report for November highlights a decline of 0.5% in production, totaling 17.3 billion pounds across the 24 major states.
October's revised production, initially estimated at 17.9 billion pounds, was down 0.6% compared to the same month in 2022. The revision indicated a 37 million pounds decrease from the preliminary estimate.
The average production per cow in the 24 major states was 1,948 pounds for November, a decrease of 3 pounds compared to the previous year. The total number of milk cows on farms in these states was 8.90 million, reflecting a decrease of 26,000 cows year-over-year and 9,000 fewer cows than in October 2023.
On a national scale, the number of milk cows on farms in the U.S. was 9.36 million, representing a decline of 44,000 head year-over-year and 10,000 head less than in October 2023.
Phil Plourd, president of Ever.Ag Insights, notes that the continuous decline in cow numbers, despite lower dairy cow slaughter, indicates tighter supplies of heifers and cows. With cow numbers down by 44,000 head year-over-year, the near-to-intermediate-term outlook for milk production doesn't appear significantly stronger.
Plourd raises the question of whether the Southwest region's milk output will stabilize after overcoming adverse weather conditions and facing easier comparisons in the future.
The production decline was notable in New Mexico, dropping by 56 million pounds with 27,000 fewer cows. California also saw a decline of 55 million pounds with 11,000 fewer cows. Texas recorded a decrease of 30 million pounds and 18,000 cows. Pennsylvania's production per cow fell by 20 pounds, resulting in an 11-million-pound drop in milk production, despite only a 1,000-head decline in cow numbers.
Conversely, South Dakota witnessed a significant increase of 24 million pounds and 13,000 cows. Michigan's production rose by 18 million pounds with an additional 8,000 cows. Arizona added 6,000 cows and 14 million pounds of milk, while Ohio posted an 11-million-pound gain with 5,000 more cows.
The average production per cow in the 24 major states was 1,948 pounds for November, a decrease of 3 pounds compared to the previous year. The total number of milk cows on farms in these states was 8.90 million, reflecting a decrease of 26,000 cows year-over-year and 9,000 fewer cows than in October 2023.
On a national scale, the number of milk cows on farms in the U.S. was 9.36 million, representing a decline of 44,000 head year-over-year and 10,000 head less than in October 2023.
Phil Plourd, president of Ever.Ag Insights, notes that the continuous decline in cow numbers, despite lower dairy cow slaughter, indicates tighter supplies of heifers and cows. With cow numbers down by 44,000 head year-over-year, the near-to-intermediate-term outlook for milk production doesn't appear significantly stronger.
Plourd raises the question of whether the Southwest region's milk output will stabilize after overcoming adverse weather conditions and facing easier comparisons in the future.
The production decline was notable in New Mexico, dropping by 56 million pounds with 27,000 fewer cows. California also saw a decline of 55 million pounds with 11,000 fewer cows. Texas recorded a decrease of 30 million pounds and 18,000 cows. Pennsylvania's production per cow fell by 20 pounds, resulting in an 11-million-pound drop in milk production, despite only a 1,000-head decline in cow numbers.
Conversely, South Dakota witnessed a significant increase of 24 million pounds and 13,000 cows. Michigan's production rose by 18 million pounds with an additional 8,000 cows. Arizona added 6,000 cows and 14 million pounds of milk, while Ohio posted an 11-million-pound gain with 5,000 more cows.
