U.S. Milk Cow Inventory Update – Jul ’20
According to USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report, the U.S. milk cow herd rebounded from the four year seasonal low level experienced throughout the previous year as of Jul ’20. The report showed that as of July 1st, 2020, the total U.S. milk cow herd stood at 9.35 million head, up 50,000 head, or 0.5%, from the previous year. The milk cow herd remained below the 21 year high seasonal level experienced throughout July of 2017 and 2018, however.
Milk heifer replacements of 4.1 million head were unchanged from the previous year as of Jul ’20. On a heifer replacement per milk cow basis, the Jul ’20 figure of 0.439 finished at an 11 year seasonal low level.