January Milk Output Inches Up

WASHINGTON - Feb 16/07 - SNS -- Milk production in January was up 1,4% over last year at 14.2 billion pounds in the 23 major States, according to the USDA. December production, at 14.0 billion pounds, was up 2.8 percent from December 2005.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,719 pounds for January, 8 pounds above January 2006. The number of cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.28 million head, 81,000 head more than January 2006, and 3,000 head more than December 2006.

The annual production of milk for the U.S. during 2006 was 182 billion pounds, 2.8 percent above 2005. Revisions to 2005 production decreased the annual total 60 million pounds. Revised 2006 production was down slightly from last month's publication.

Production per cow in the U.S. averaged 19,951 pounds for 2006, 386 pounds above 2005. The average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 18.3 percent from 1997.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here