Cow numbers, milk production reverse course

After three months of negative-to-steady milk production totals compared to the same months a year earlier, November 2012 U.S. milk production rose about 1% compared to November 2011, according to USDA’s monthly report. And, after a six-month decline, U.S. cow numbers also rose from the month before.

Nationally, November milk production was estimated at 15.97 billion lbs., compared to 15,820 billion lbs. in November 2011. November 2012 cow numbers, at 9.193 million, were up 7,000 from October 2012. It marked the first month-to-month increase since April. November 2012 cow numbers were down 20,000 from November 2011, and down 78,000 from April’s peak.

U.S. November milk per cow was estimated at 1,738 lbs., up 21 lbs. from November 2011.

November 2012 milk production in the 23 major states totaled 14.90 billion lbs., up 1.1% from a year earlier. October 2012 revised production, at 15.17 billion lbs., was down slightly from October 2011. The October revision represented an increase of 1 million lbs. (<0.1%) from last month's preliminary production estimate. 

November 2012 cow numbers in the 23 major states were estimated at 8.47 million head, 3,000 head less than November 2011, but 8,000 head more than October 2012. It was also the first month-to-month increase in cow numbers since March-April 2012. 

Compared to October, November cow numbers increased in California, Idaho and Iowa (2,000 head each) and Kansas, Michigan and Utah (1,000 head each). Florida and New Mexico saw cow numbers decline 1,000 each; all others were unchanged.

Compared to November 2011, November 2012 declines in cow numbers were largest in Arizona (-12,000), New Mexico (-10,000) and Pennsylvania and Texas (-5,000 each). Compared to a year earlier, largest increases in cow numbers were in Wisconsin and Michigan (+6,000 each), Iowa (+5,000) and Colorado and Kansas (+4,000).

Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,758 lbs. for November, 19 lbs. more than November 2011. 

Find the full report at http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/MilkProd/MilkProd-12-19-2012.pdf