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The DAT People's Choice Question of the Week:Increase or Decrease?
U.S. Dairy cow numbers have now reached the highest number since the fourth quarter of 1994 at 9.505 million.
The number of cows added in the past 12 months in the 24 major dairy states is approximately 152,000 head.
Along with much higher cow numbers, growth in U.S. and major dairy state average milk output per cow increased.
This increase was unforeseen by many, especially after the COVID year of 2020.

Next year at this time, will there be an increase or decrease in cow numbers?
Reader Comments
Comments posted do not express the viewpoint of Dairy Agenda Today or its staff members.
Reality
July, 20 2021
Low milk prices will solve the problem. Hang tight I'm sure we will have them. Heavy culling will follow.....
Tony Whitehead
July, 19 2021
Milk prices and product demand will get rid of a few cows. What is really going to reduce the herd is in about 6-9 months when kill cows are selling for over $1/lb.
Yep!
July, 19 2021
I wish I could find a home for my extra milk. I am limited on the milk I can ship, and all the other plants in a 300 mile radius.
Bob
July, 19 2021
springing hf worth nothing, might as well milk them feed cheap till recently, higher bills to pay for, calves and cows worth nothing to slaughter, can't imagine why we have more cows!
oldster
July, 19 2021
Unless you ship to a processor that has no quota restrictions on your daily shipments, most every dairyman is being forced into on farm efficiencies that will restrict his growth. If the forage is good, the cow #'s will be down, IMHO.
Large Dairy
July, 18 2021
I think U.S. cow numbers will decrease by next year. We added cows in the last year because of the increases in demand. More milk being sold with people home. We could spread our fixed costs over more cows, which lowed them on a per cow basis. I believe this was the thought of many U.S. dairymen. But more milk will lower the price and probably drive some out of the industry.