U.S. Dairy Cow Slaughter Update – Oct ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. dairy cow slaughter figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Sep ’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 12 of the past 14 months. The Sep ’20 YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the smallest experienced throughout the past four months on a percentage basis, however.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Sep ’20. The Aug ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 1,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Sep ’20 figure increased an additional 5,000 head, reaching a five month high level and finishing 33,000 head above the previous year.
Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), followed by 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.
- Sep ’20 U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates increased seasonally to a five month high level but finished 6.5% lower on a YOY basis when normalizing for slaughter days.
- Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada).
- YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
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 12 of the past 14 months. The Sep ’20 YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the smallest experienced throughout the past four months on a percentage basis, however.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Sep ’20. The Aug ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 1,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Sep ’20 figure increased an additional 5,000 head, reaching a five month high level and finishing 33,000 head above the previous year.
Month-over-month increases in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), followed by 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.