U.S. Dairy Cow Slaughter Update – Dec ’20
Executive Summary
U.S. dairy cow slaughter figures provided by the USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Nov ’20. Highlights from the updated report include:
Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months through Jul ’19 prior to finishing flat or lower throughout 14 of the past 16 months.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Nov ’20. The Oct ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 5,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Nov ’20 figure increased an additional 12,000 head, reaching a 29 month high level and finishing 62,000 head above the previous year.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), while slaughter rates increased most significantly from the previous month throughout Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), followed by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
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.
- Nov ’20 U.S. dairy cow slaughter rates declined 8.4% on a YOY basis when normalizing for slaughter days, reaching a six year low seasonal level.
- Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd rebounding to a 29 month high level throughout Nov ’20.
- YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
Dairy cow slaughter rates had finished higher on a YOY basis over 30 consecutive months through Jul ’19 prior to finishing flat or lower throughout 14 of the past 16 months.
Recent declines in slaughter rates have contributed to the U.S. milk cow herd remaining higher on a YOY basis through Nov ’20. The Oct ’20 U.S. milk cow herd was revised 5,000 head higher than levels previous stated while the Nov ’20 figure increased an additional 12,000 head, reaching a 29 month high level and finishing 62,000 head above the previous year.
Month-over-month declines in dairy cow slaughter rates were most significant throughout Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), while slaughter rates increased most significantly from the previous month throughout Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia).
YOY declines in dairy cow slaughter were led by Standard Federal Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), followed by Standard Federal Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin).
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.