USDA's recent Milk Production report shows the number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major milk-producing states totalled 8.28 million head in March. That number reflects 58,000 head more than in March 2006, and 5,000 more than in February 2007. The California dairy herd increased 15,000 head to 1.796 million cows. Wisconsin dairy cow numbers increased by 5,000 to a total of 1.246 million.
Production per cow in the 23 states averaged 1,782 lbs for March, 7 lbs above the March 2006 figure. Milk production in the U.S. during the January-March quarter totaled 46 billion pounds, 1% more than in the same quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.13 million head, 36,000 more than in the same period last year.
Source: USDA.