U.S. Dairy Cow Slaughter Update – Mar ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. dairy cow slaughter figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Feb ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
The Feb ’20 YOY decline in U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates was the fifth experienced throughout the past seven months and the largest experienced throughout the past five years on a percentage basis. Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months prior to the recently experienced declines.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd rebounding from the three year low level experienced during Jul ’19. The U.S. milk cow herd has increased by a total of 55,000 head throughout the past seven months, rebounding to an 18 month high level, overall. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.37 million head, up 18,000 head from the previous year but remaining 68,000 head below the 23 year high level experienced during Jan ’18.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada), followed by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), followed by Standard Federal Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas).
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.
- U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates declined on a YOY basis for the fifth time in the past seven months during Feb ’20, finishing down 6.7% when normalizing for slaughter days. The YOY decline in dairy cow slaughter rates was the largest experienced throughout the past five years on a percentage basis.
- Month-over-month declines 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 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
The Feb ’20 YOY decline in U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates was the fifth experienced throughout the past seven months and the largest experienced throughout the past five years on a percentage basis. Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months prior to the recently experienced declines.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd rebounding from the three year low level experienced during Jul ’19. The U.S. milk cow herd has increased by a total of 55,000 head throughout the past seven months, rebounding to an 18 month high level, overall. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.37 million head, up 18,000 head from the previous year but remaining 68,000 head below the 23 year high level experienced during Jan ’18.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada), followed by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), followed by Standard Federal Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas).
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.