According to USDA, Aug ’15 U.S. dairy cow slaughter of 225,400 head declined 3.0% YOY and 4.2% MOM on a daily average basis to an eight year low for the month of August. The monthly YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter was the first experienced in the past nine months while the MOM decrease in slaughter was a contraseasonal move when compared to the ten year average July – August increase of 9.7%. Despite the decline in slaughter rates, the U.S. dairy cow herd remained unchanged for the second consecutive month in Aug ’15. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9,321,000 head, which is 53,000 head more than August of last year. MOM decreases in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) followed by Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada). No MOM increases in dairy cow slaughter were exhibited within the Standard Federal Regions. The most significant YOY decrease in dairy cow slaughter was exhibited in Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) while the Southern United States experienced slight YOY increases in dairy cow slaughter throughout the month.