January milk production up 0.5%

January 2013 U.S. milk production was estimated at 17.10 billion lbs., up about 0.5% from a year earlier, according to USDA’s monthly milk production report. Cow numbers were estimated at 9.225 million head, up 7,000 from December 2012, but 17,000 fewer than January 2012. January 2013 output per cow averaged 1,854 lbs., up 13 lbs. from a year ago.

January 2013 milk production in the 23 major dairy states totaled 15.9 billion lbs., up 0.6% from January 2012. Production per cow in those states averaged 1,871 lbs., 11 lbs. more than January 2012. Cow numbers were estimated at 8.50 million head, up 6,000 head from December, but 2,000 less than January 2012.

 

Cow numbers: In the major dairy states, only Arizona and Texas (each +2,000) and Indiana, Kansas and Ohio (each +1,000) posted gains in cow numbers in January 2013 compared to December 2012. New Mexico and Virginia (each -1,000) were the only states to post declining cow numbers.

Compared to a year earlier, New Mexico cow numbers were down 15,000, with Pennsylvania down 5,000 head, and California and Virginia each down 2,000 head. Kansas (+9,000), Michigan and Wisconsin (each +5,000) and Colorado (+1,000) posted the largest gains.

 

2012 totals: With December revisions, total 2012 U.S. milk production was 200.3 billion lbs., 2.1% more than 2011. The average number of U.S. milk cows was 9.23 million head in 2012, up 39,000 (0.4%) from 2011.  Production per cow averaged 21,697 lbs. for 2012, 361 lbs. more than 2011. The average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 15.7% from 2003.