Beef Prices will Continue to Rein in Milk Cow Numbers
- ZISK
- 20 hours ago
- 1 min read
Historically high beef prices continue to play heavily in the dairy market. For the eighth consecutive year, heifer inventories at the beginning as of January 1 were lower than they were the year before. And that will continue to incentivize dairy producers to breed for the beef market while keeping more older cows in the milk herd, according to Sarina Sharp, analyst with the Daily Dairy Report.
According to USDA’s recent Cattle report, as of January 1, the national milk herd contained 3.905 million heifers, 11,000 fewer than last year. The number of heifers ready to calve and enter the milk herd dipped by 3,000 head to 2.498 million.
By Fran Howard
February 18, 2026 08:54 AM
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