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Milk production up 2.1 percent in January

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Milk production in the United States totaled 17.6 billion pounds in January up 2.1 percent from January of 2014. The nation’s dairy herd increased 96,000 head to 9.3 million cows and production per cow was 19 pounds higher at 1,895.

Milk production in the 23 major dairy states totaled 16.5 billion pounds in January up 2.1 percent from a year ago. Production per cow in those states increased 17 pounds to 1,918, the highest production per cow for January since they started keeping these records in 2003.  There were 8.62 million cows in the 23 states, 103,000 more than in January of 2014 and 8,000 more than in December.  Production in two of the 23 states, Oregon and Virginia was even with a year ago while California and New Mexico production was lower.

California milk production decreased 2.6 percent in January to 3.5 billion pounds. The Golden State dairy herd declined 2,000 head to 1.78 million and production per cow fell 50 pounds to average 1,985.

Wisconsin milk production increased 3.4 percent to nearly 2.4 billion pounds. The Badger State added 5,000 cows to make the herd 1.275 million and production per cow increased 55 pounds to average 1,880.

Michigan continues to add cows and production. Compared to a year ago, production increased 9.6 percent to 854 million pounds.  The dairy herd added 22,000 cows and production per cow increased 75 pounds to 2,120.

Final numbers put total milk production for the United States at 206 billion pounds in 2014 up 2.4 percent from 2013. Production per cow averaged 22,258 last year, 442 pounds more than in 2013.  The nation’s dairy herd increased slightly to average 9.26 million head during the year.  California milk production totaled 42.3 billion pounds in 2014 up 2.6 percent from 2013.  Wisconsin totaled 27.8 billion pounds of milk up 0.8 percent from 2013.

 

Over the past ten years, U.S. milk production has increased from 177 billion pounds in 2005 to 206 billion in 2014. Production per cow over the decade went from 19,550 to 22,258.  The nation’s dairy herd was just over 9 million in 2005, grew to 9.3 million in 2008, slipped to 9.1 million in 2010 and rebounded to 9.25 million in 2014.

Read the full NASS report here:

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