Milk Production Continues To Increase, Despite Decrease In Cow Numbers

Milk per cow pretty strong, nationwide, according to USDA Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski. The latest USDA Milk Production Report puts July's national milk per cow averaging 1,994 pounds; 21 pounds higher than July of last year. The total production for this July is 18.6 billion pounds, 1.5% more than July of 2019. In this case, with a herd of 9.3 million head, that's about 37,000 more cows than a year ago.

However Mark Jekanowski's outlook board is forecasting a gradual decline in cow numbers but continued growth in milk per cow.

"That is offsetting a little bit of a decline in cow numbers, we actually increased our milk production estimate for 2020 by a little bit."

USDA now puts 2020 milk output topping last year by 1.5% and another 1.5% for next year as well.

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