Fourth Quarter Milk Output Rises

WASHINGTON - Jan 18/06 - SNS -- Milk production in the United States totalled 13.6 billion pounds in the 23 main producing states, up 4.2% from December 2004, according to the USDA.

November revised production, at 13.0 billion pounds, was up 4.6% from November 2004. The November revision represented a decrease of 1 million pounds from last month's preliminary production estimate.

This lifted output for the October through December quarter to 43.6 billion pounds, up 3.9% from the fourth quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.05 million head, 31,000 head more than the same period last year.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,665 pounds for December, 55 pounds above December 2004. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.16 million head, 67,000 head more than December 2004, and 4,000 head more than November 2005.

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