November milk production totaled 14.98 billion lbs. in the 23 major dairy states, up just 0.3% from November 2012, according to preliminary data in today’s USDA Milk Production report.
November cow numbers in those states totaled 8.5 million head, down 4,000 from October, but 22,000 more than a year ago. Output per cow averaged 1,762 lbs., up just 1 lb. from November 2012.
Revisions added 27 million lbs. to the original October estimate in the major dairy states, now put at 15.4 billion lbs., up 1.4% from a year ago.
Nationally, November 2013 milk production was estimated at 16.03 billion lbs., up 0.1% from November 2012. Cow numbers were estimated at 9.198 million head, down 5,000 from October 2013, and 3,000 less than November 2012. Output per cow for the month was 1,742 lbs., up 2 lbs. from a year ago.
Among the major states, California production was up 0.6% from a year ago, despite a 30-lb. drop in output per cow; cow numbers were up 5,000 head. Wisconsin was down 0.6% on a loss of 10 lbs. per cow; cow numbers were unchanged. New York was up 2.1%, thanks to a 35-lb. per cow increase; cow numbers were unchanged. Idaho was down 1.8%, on a 10-lb. drop per cow and 8,000 fewer cows. Pennsylvania was off 0.2%, on 3,000 fewer cows, but output per cow was up 5 lbs. Minnesota was off 1.9%, due to a 30-lb. drop per cow; cow numbers were unchanged.
The biggest gain was in Kansas, up 7.5%, followed by Utah, up 5.8%. The biggest decline, and there were several, was in Missouri, down 5.5%, followed by Illinois, down 2.5%.
Other states of interest: Michigan was up 0.5%, despite a 20-lb. loss per cow, but cow numbers were up 6,000 head. New Mexico was down 0.8%, due to a 10-lb. loss per cow and 1,000 fewer cows. Texas keeps climbing, up 2.4%, thanks to 10,000 more cows, although output per cow was unchanged. Washington was up 1.8% on a 15-lb. per cow increase and 3,000 more cows.
Source: Dairy Business
