U.S. Dairy Cow Slaughter Update – May ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. dairy cow slaughter figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Apr ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd rebounding from the three year low level experienced during Jul ’19. The U.S. milk cow herd has increased by a total of 66,000 head throughout the past nine months, remaining near recently experienced 20 month high levels through the end of April. The Apr ’20 milk cow herd declined 4,000 head from the March revised figure, however, aided by the recent increase in slaughter rates. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.381 million head, up 49,000 head from the previous year but remaining 57,000 head below the 23 year high level experienced during Jan ’18.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), while slaughter rates throughout Standard Federal Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) increased most significantly from the previous month.
YOY increases in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada), while slaughter rates declined most significantly on a YOY basis throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
2019 annual dairy cow slaughter rates increased 4.4% on a YOY basis, reaching a 33 year high and a 35 year high level on a percentage of the total dairy cow herd basis.
- U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates declined seasonally from the previous month but finished higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past seven months during Apr ’20, increasing by 4.1% when normalizing for slaughter days and reaching a 34 year high seasonal level.
- Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
- YOY increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada).
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd rebounding from the three year low level experienced during Jul ’19. The U.S. milk cow herd has increased by a total of 66,000 head throughout the past nine months, remaining near recently experienced 20 month high levels through the end of April. The Apr ’20 milk cow herd declined 4,000 head from the March revised figure, however, aided by the recent increase in slaughter rates. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.381 million head, up 49,000 head from the previous year but remaining 57,000 head below the 23 year high level experienced during Jan ’18.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), while slaughter rates throughout Standard Federal Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) increased most significantly from the previous month.
YOY increases in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada), while slaughter rates declined most significantly on a YOY basis throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
2019 annual dairy cow slaughter rates increased 4.4% on a YOY basis, reaching a 33 year high and a 35 year high level on a percentage of the total dairy cow herd basis.