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U.S. milk production up for the month, quarter and year

Milk production in the U.S. in December totaled 17.3 billion pounds up 3.1 percent compared to December of 2013. The nation’s dairy herd was at 9.3 million cows up 100,000 head from a year ago.  Production per cow averaged 1,862 pounds, a 37-pound increase over December of 2013.

Milk production in the 23 major dairy states totaled 16.2 billion pounds in December up 3.2 percent from December of 2013. Production per cow in the 23 states averaged 1,888 pounds up 35 pounds from a year ago.  The dairy herd in the 23 major dairy states increased 107,000 head to 8.61 million head.  All of the 23 major dairy states saw an increase compared to a year ago except California (-0.1%), Oregon (-0.5%) and Illinois (-0.6%).

Milk production in the United States from October through December totaled 50.9 billion pounds up 3.4 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The dairy herd was at 9.28 million head up 16,000 from the third quarter and 83,000 more than a year ago.

Preliminary numbers put the total U.S. milk production for 2014 at nearly 206 billion pounds up 2.4 percent from 2013. The nation’s dairy herd averaged 9.255 million head last year, 34,000 more than the 2013 average.  Production per cow was 22,258 up 436 pounds from the previous year.

California produced 3.47 billion pounds of milk in December, down 0.1 percent from a year ago. The Golden State saw cow numbers hold steady at 1.9 million while production per cow slipped 1 pound to average 1,950 pounds.  California milk production was up 1.7 percent for the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin milk production totaled 2.36 billion pounds in December up 3.1 percent from a year ago. The Badger State dairy herd increased 4,000 head to 1.274 million cows and production per cow increased 50 pounds to average 1,855.  Wisconsin milk production was up 2.8 percent for the fourth quarter.

 

Read the full NASS report here: