U.S. Dairy Cow Slaughter Update – Sep ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. dairy cow slaughter figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Aug ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months through Jul ’19 prior to finishing flat or lower throughout 11 of the past 13 months. The Aug ’20 YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the largest experienced throughout the past five and a half years on a percentage basis.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Aug ’20. The Jul ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 8,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Aug ’20 figure remained unchanged month-over-month, up 42,000 head from the previous year.
Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), while slaughter rates throughout Standard Federal Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) declined most significantly from the previous month.
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter continued to be led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), followed closely by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada) and Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
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.
- Aug ’20 U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates remained slightly above recent four year low levels but finished 11.9% lower on a YOY basis when normalizing for slaughter days. The YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the largest experienced throughout the past five and a half years on a percentage basis.
- Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
- YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter rates continued to be led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months through Jul ’19 prior to finishing flat or lower throughout 11 of the past 13 months. The Aug ’20 YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the largest experienced throughout the past five and a half years on a percentage basis.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Aug ’20. The Jul ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 8,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Aug ’20 figure remained unchanged month-over-month, up 42,000 head from the previous year.
Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), while slaughter rates throughout Standard Federal Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) declined most significantly from the previous month.
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter continued to be led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), followed closely by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada) and Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
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.