Interest In Registered Holsteins Hits Record High

Many in the nation’s dairy industry says they are starting to see signs of recovery following a nearly five-year downward market cycle.  Despite these challenges, the world’s leading dairy cattle breed, U.S. Registered Holsteins, has experienced growth in the number of animals registered and identified through Holstein Association USA.  John Meyer, CEO of Holstein Association USA, says that growth is thanks to one of nature’s greatest gifts.  He notes the U.S. Registered Holstein can provide the high-quality protein drink in abundance.

“Dairy cattle, like the Holstein cow, are really a natural converter. You have the sun, you have the rain, you have the great grasses and forages that those cows eat, and then they take that energy and produce milk and other dairy products. It’s really a great recycling program and wonderful, sustainable, efficient part of life that we have.”

Meyer added there’s reason for dairy farmers to be optimistic about future demand for dairy products, and U.S. Registered Holstein genetics.

“The need for the protein and calcium from real milk, from the great Holstein cow, has never been better. As the world population continues to increase, the need for dairy and meat proteins will only increase. There’s just a lot of different ways that people can capitalize on the great product that the Registered Holstein cow produces.”

Holstein Association USA reports that in 2018 dairy producers registered and identified an all-time record of nearly 749,000 head of cattle.  Meyer said that’s a reflection of the increased value placed on proper identification of dairy cattle.

“The interest in registered and identified Holstein cows is at an all-time high. The number of dairy farms in this country has dropped considerably to under 40,000 over the last 15 years. But we continually register and identify more cattle. We’ve grown our identifications by 90% over the last 15 years, in a market where the number of dairy farms has dropped by over 47%. So it just shows that we are doing more business with the dairy farmers that are in this country than we ever have before.”

To meet the needs of a changing U.S. dairy business, Meyer said Holstein Association USA offers impactful programs, products and services to help its members remain profitable.  Records processing, identification, genomic technology and marketing support are all areas in which the organization serves its members, and the black-and-white Holstein cow.

“The Registered Holstein cow is the most coveted dairy animal in the world. There’s really nothing that we can’t do with the Holstein cow, because we have such a broad base of animals to choose from, such a diverse population, so that no matter what market you are in or what you want to accomplish with your animals, you can do that.”

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