Dairy cows culled for beef up in March report

ZISK
Apr 28
1 min read

After a steady decline in cow slaughter, dairy producers are starting to see a shift in culling decisions. The high cost of replacement heifers has made it difficult to justify culling cows, but that trend is beginning to change. Recent numbers show more cows moving to slaughter again.

Based on the latest USDA monthly Livestock Slaughter data released on April 23, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in March 2026 was estimated at 239,200. While up 1,900 from February, it was also 21,300 more than March 2025.

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