News

U.S. milk production up slightly in March

Milk production in the United States in March was 16.576 billion pounds, up 0.6 percent compared to March of last year. The number of dairy cows in the U.S. slipped 193,000 from a year ago to 9.09 million head but production per cow increased 48 pounds from last year to 1,824.

Production in the 23 major dairy states in March was 0.9 percent above a year ago at 15.355 billion pounds. Production per cow in those states averaged 1,846, a 51-pound increase over a year ago.

California milk production slipped 0.7 percent to 3.48 billion pounds, the Golden State dairy herd lost 63,000 head to 1.758 million cows while production per cow increased 55 pounds to average 1,980.

Wisconsin milk production increased 6.3 percent to 2.237 billion pounds, the Badger State dairy herd added 4,000 cows to 1.26 million and production per cow jumped 100 pounds to average 1,775.

For the first three months of 2010 milk production totaled 47.3 billion pounds, down 0.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009. The nation’s dairy herd was 9.09 million head, 206,000 less than the first three months of last year.

Read the NASS report here: