U.S. milk production rose about 0.1% compared to the same month last year, according to the USDA’s preliminary January Milk Production report, released Feb. 21.
January 2024-25 dairy recap at a glance
Reviewing the USDA preliminary estimates for January 2025 compared to January 2024:
- U.S. milk production: 19.1 billion pounds, up 0.1%
- U.S. cow numbers: 9.365 million, up 41,000 head
- U.S. average milk per cow: 2,040 pounds, down 7 pounds
- 24-state milk production: 18.329 billion pounds, up 0.2%
- 24-state cow numbers: 8.925 million, up 54,000 head
- 24-state average milk per cow: 2,054 pounds, down 8 pounds
Source: USDA Milk Production report, Feb. 21, 2025
Cow numbers higher
January 2025 U.S. cow numbers were estimated at 9.365 million head, up 41,000 from a year earlier. The trend is similar in the 24 major dairy states, where January 2025 cow numbers were estimated at 8.925 million, also up 54,000 head from January 2024 (Table 1).
Compared to a year earlier, 10 states had more cows than January one year ago; 11 states had fewer cows. Texas and Idaho led all states in year-over-year growth, up a combined 67,000 head in January. That was partially offset by a combined 22,000-head reduction in Minnesota, Arizona and Wisconsin.
Milk output per cow lower
The national average in monthly milk output per cow decreased in January 2025 and was down 7 pounds from January 2024. Among major states, the average year-to-year change was also down 8 pounds from the same month a year earlier.
Affected by regional weather factors, variations in feed costs and income margins, the difference in output per cow among those states was wide (Table 2).
Georgia showed per-cow output increased 105 pounds per month compared to the same month a year ago, while monthly production in California declined by 120 pounds.
Milk production higher
The preliminary estimate of overall January 2025 milk production was higher than the same month a year earlier.
Fourteen states boosted production a combined 306 million pounds; nine states reduced production a combined 270 million pounds. Year-over-year growth leaders were Texas (up 91 million pounds), Idaho (up 88 million pounds), and New York and South Dakota (both up 26 million pounds).
The states posting largest volume declines were California (down 203 million pounds), Arizona (down 17 million pounds), Wisconsin (down 17 million pounds) and Washington (down 15 million pounds).
Texas was the milk percentage growth leader for January 2025, up 6.53% from January 2024 with South Dakota following at 6.5%. January 2025 production was down 5.74% from a year earlier in California, 4.08% in Arizona and 3.31% in Virginia.
