U.S. Dairy Cow Inventory Update – Jan ’18
According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, dairy producers expanded their herds throughout 2017 for the fourth consecutive year. The report showed that as of January 1st, 2018, the milk cow herd was 0.6% above a year ago, reaching a new 22 year high. The total milk cow herd finished the year at 9.399 million head, up 53,000 head from the previous year.
California had the largest milk cow herd as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Wisconsin, New York, Idaho, Pennsylvania and Texas. The milk cow herds within California and Wisconsin accounted for nearly a third of the total national milk cow herd.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+25,000 head), followed by Colorado (+11,000 head), New Mexico (+7,000 head) and Arizona (+7,000 head). California (-15,000 head) experienced the largest reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the year.
The number of milk heifer replacements also increased from the previous year, finishing 0.6% higher YOY and reaching the second highest figure experienced throughout the past 56 years. The Jan ’18 heifer replacements per milk cow figure of 0.509 finished at the second highest level on record, trailing only the 2016 figure.
California had the largest number of milk heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and Idaho. The milk heifer replacements within California and Wisconsin accounted for over 30% of the total U.S. milk heifer replacements.
YOY increases in milk heifer replacements were most significant within Kansas (+40,000 head), followed by California (+30,000 head) and New Mexico (+20,000 head). Kansas is home to numerous custom heifer raising operations for both in-state and out-of-state dairies. In addition, Kansas has experienced a contraction in its beef industry, resulting in numerous empty feedlots available for converting into heifer raising facilities. Arizona (-12,000 head) experienced the largest decline in milk heifer replacements throughout the year.
California had the largest milk cow herd as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Wisconsin, New York, Idaho, Pennsylvania and Texas. The milk cow herds within California and Wisconsin accounted for nearly a third of the total national milk cow herd.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+25,000 head), followed by Colorado (+11,000 head), New Mexico (+7,000 head) and Arizona (+7,000 head). California (-15,000 head) experienced the largest reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the year.
The number of milk heifer replacements also increased from the previous year, finishing 0.6% higher YOY and reaching the second highest figure experienced throughout the past 56 years. The Jan ’18 heifer replacements per milk cow figure of 0.509 finished at the second highest level on record, trailing only the 2016 figure.
California had the largest number of milk heifer replacements as of January 1st, 2018, followed by Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and Idaho. The milk heifer replacements within California and Wisconsin accounted for over 30% of the total U.S. milk heifer replacements.
YOY increases in milk heifer replacements were most significant within Kansas (+40,000 head), followed by California (+30,000 head) and New Mexico (+20,000 head). Kansas is home to numerous custom heifer raising operations for both in-state and out-of-state dairies. In addition, Kansas has experienced a contraction in its beef industry, resulting in numerous empty feedlots available for converting into heifer raising facilities. Arizona (-12,000 head) experienced the largest decline in milk heifer replacements throughout the year.