May 27, 2013

US milk production in the top 23 producing states totalled 16.1 billion pounds in April this year, up 0.3% from the same period last year.

This is according to preliminary data in USDA's latest "sequestered" Milk Production report.

The 50-state output amounted to 17.3 billion pounds, up 0.2%. The total was more than expected, but not overwhelmingly so. The March data was not revised, remaining at 16.4 billion pounds, down 0.1% from a year ago.

California milk output was down 0.2% from a year ago. Wisconsin was up 1.3%, New York was up 1.7%, Idaho was up 0.5%, Pennsylvania was unchanged and Minnesota was up 1.8%.

Other states of interest saw Michigan up 1.3%, New Mexico down 2.5%, Texas down 3.2% and Washington was up 1.7%.

Cow numbers and output per cow data was suspended because of the government sequester, however, USDA's latest Livestock Slaughter report shows an estimated 259,400 culled dairy cows were slaughtered under federal inspection in April, down 5,800 from March, but 28,600 more than April 2012.

While 2013 weekly slaughter totals have slowed somewhat, cull dairy cow slaughter has surpassed the comparable week a year ago in 13 of the first 19 weeks of the year. The January-April 2013 total was estimated at 1.099 million head, 56,100 more than the same period in 2012.