Dairy heifer inventories to remain low before rebounding in 2027, says CoBank report
- ZISK APP
- Jun 29
- 1 min read
The U.S. dairy herd has reached its largest size in 30 years, but one critical subset of the herd — replacement heifers that represent the next generation of milk cows — remains historically low.
The number of heifers available to enter the milking herd has fallen sharply, dropping to the lowest level since 1978. The decline comes as strong financial incentives are prompting dairy farmers to produce calves destined for the beef supply rather than milk production.
According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, replacement heifer supplies are projected to shrink even further in 2026 before beginning to rebound in 2027.
With replacements in short supply, producers are retaining adult dairy cows that would have typically been culled, contributing to the overall increase in the U.S. dairy herd. At the same time, producers are making more beef-on-dairy calves, further tightening dairy replacement heifer supplies. This has pushed heifer prices into record territory, well over $3,000 per head.
June 26, 2026
Comments