May 6, 2004

US Dairy Industry Falls Short Of Heifers
 

The industry is grappling with a shortage of replacement dairy heifers, according to one of America's largest dairy co-operatives.

Land O' Lakes says the US relies heavily on Canada for its supply of dairy cows. However it has not been able to buy Canadian heifers since BSE was discovered there last May.

Board chairman Pete Kappelman says this has resulted in significant jumps in the cow prices.

For cows that would normally go to slaughter, producers have keeping them for a longer period of time. Thus, per cow production in the US is reduced.

Kappelman stated that the move has driven the cost of cows up to unprecedented levels, where pregnant heifers fetch as much as US $2500.

"For farmers who generate extra females, it's actually a positive situation."