Dairy Production Overview

Dairy Production

2023 U.S. Animal and Animal Product Cash Receipts

  • Total Cash Receipts for 2023 (Animals and Animal Products):
    • $271.3 billion
  • Total Cash Receipts for 2023 (Crops):
    • $249.6 billion
  • Breakdown of Cash Receipts (Animals and Products):
    • Other Animals/Products: $8.3 billion
    • Poultry and Eggs: $79.7 billion
    • Cattle and Calves: $101.1 billion
    • Hogs: $45.9 billion
  • Breakdown of Cash Receipts (Crops):
    • Corn: $51.7 billion
    • Soybeans: $28.8 billion
    • Wheat: $12.0 billion
    • Cotton: $7.1 billion
    • Hay: $9.8 billion
    • Vegetables, Fruits, and Nuts: $56.1 billion
  • Note: Components may not sum to total due to rounding. Data as of December 3, 2024.
  • Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Farm Income and Wealth Statistics.

U.S. Cash Receipts for Selected Animals/Products (2023-2024 Forecast)

  • Cash Receipts in Billion Dollars (Nominal):
    • Cattle and Calves
    • Dairy Products, Milk
    • Broilers
    • Hogs
    • Eggs
  • Note: F = forecast.
  • Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Farm Income and Wealth Statistics. Data as of December 3, 2024.

Dairy Industry Overview

  • Top 5 States:
    • Account for over half of U.S. dairy sales.
    • Total dairy cows: 9.3 million (down 2.4% from 2017).
    • Total farms: 24,470 (down 39% from 2017).
    • 88% were dairy farms, accounting for 98% of milk sold.
    • Production Expenses: $43.9 billion
    • Revenue from Sale of Milk: $52.8 billion

Demographics of Dairy and Beef Producers (2022)

  • Sex Distribution:
    • Male: Dairy Producers (30%), All U.S. (64%), Beef Farming (63%).
    • Female: Dairy Producers (70%), All U.S. (36%), Beef Farming (37%).
  • Age Distribution:
    • Under 35: Dairy Producers (17%), All U.S. (9%).
    • Ages 35-64: Dairy Producers (61%), All U.S. (53%).
    • 65 and older: Dairy Producers (22%), All U.S. (38%).
  • Average Age:
    • Dairy Producers: 51.4 years
    • All U.S.: 58.1 years
    • Beef Producers: 58.3 years
  • Years of Farming:
    • 10 or less years: Dairy (20%), All U.S. (30%), Beef (28%).
    • 11 or more years: Dairy (80%), All U.S. (70%), Beef (72%).
  • Number of Producers:
    • Beef: 930,680 on 534,633 farms.
    • Dairy: 23,153 specialized dairy farms
    • More than half of the farm’s sales came from milking dairy cattle.
  • Source: USDA Census of Agriculture, 2022

Farm Characteristics for Beef and Dairy Producers (2022)

  • Number of Farms:
    • Beef Cattle Farming and Cattle Ranching: 534,633
    • Feedlots: 11,186
  • Cattle and Calf Sales: $32.2 billion
    • Total Sales (All Farms): $76.8 billion
  • Economic Class:
    • Farms with sales < $10,000: 89.4%
    • Farms specializing in dairy/milk production accounted for 98% of U.S. milk sales.
  • Dairy Farms Economic Class:
    • $10,000-$99,999: 52%
    • $100,000-$499,999: 6%
    • $500,000-$999,999: 27%
    • $1,000,000+: 34%

Average Farm Characteristics

  • Average Acres:
    • Beef: 628 acres
    • Dairy: 607 acres
    • All Farms: 463 acres
  • Average Sales:
    • Beef: $67,285
    • Dairy: $2,607,198
    • All Farms: $285,762
  • Average Government Payments:
    • Beef: $18,998
    • Dairy: $23,052
    • All Farms: $21,599
  • Average Expenses:
    • Beef: $72,345
    • Dairy: $1,895,422
    • All Farms: $223,175
  • Average Net Cash Farm Income:
    • Beef: $4,228
    • Dairy: $745,994
    • All Farms: $79,790

Production Expenses

  • Total Production Costs for Beef Farms: $76.8 billion, up 11% from 2017.
    • Largest expense: Livestock purchases ($30.1 billion, 39% of expenses).
  • Total Production Costs for Dairy Farms: $43.9 billion, up 32% from 2017.
    • Largest expense: Feed ($20.3 billion, 46% of expenses).
  • Internet Access:
    • Beef farms: 77% had internet access.
    • Dairy farms: 70% had internet access.
  • Hired Farm Labor:
    • Beef: 18%
    • Dairy: 64%

U.S. Milk Cows (2015-2024)

  • Total Milk Cows:
    • 2015: 9,480 thousand
    • 2024: 9,390 thousand
    • 0.2% Increase over the past 10 years.
  • Source: USDA-NASS, Data as of February 21, 2025.

U.S. Milk Production (2015-2024)

  • Total Production in Million Pounds:
    • 2015: 230,000
    • 8.3% Increase over the past 10 years.
  • Source: USDA-NASS, Data as of February 21, 2025.

Production Per Cow (2015-2024)

  • Production in Pounds:
    • 2015: 24,500 pounds
    • 8.1% Increase over the past 10 years.
  • Source: USDA-NASS, Data as of February 21, 2025.

Anatomy of Dairy Production

  • Mammary Gland:
    • Responsible for the synthesis, storage, and secretion of milk.
    • Composed of four functional glands (quarters) that do not interchange milk.
  • Milk Production Anatomy:
    • Alveoli: Basic secretory units; millions of hollow grape-like structures producing and secreting milk.
    • Composed of epithelial cells (milk-producing) and myoepithelial cells (contract to cause secretion).
    • Lobules: Groups of alveoli surrounded by fibrous membrane.
    • Lobes: Groups of lobules sharing a single duct system.
    • Milk Ducts: Drainage system for lobes (approximately 30 ducts per lobe).
    • Gland Cistern: Pocket for short-term milk storage at duct openings (1 per quarter).
    • Teat Cistern: Cavity within the teat.
    • Streak Canal: Opening of the teat leading to the environment.
    • Teat Sphincter: Smooth muscle closure around the streak canal.

Regulation of Milk Production

  • Mammary Development:
    • Begins at puberty, affected by estrogen (duct development) and progesterone (alveolar-lobule development).
  • Hormonal Control:
    • Prolactin stimulates milk secretion.
    • Oxytocin causes milk letdown, supported by thyroxin, growth hormone, and adrenal steroids.
    • Negative feedback can occur.
  • Milk Letdown Process:
    • Sensory stimuli (touch, sight, sound, smell) generate nerve impulses causing oxytocin release.
    • Oxytocin takes about 45-60 seconds to reach the udder, contracting myoepithelial cells to force milk into ducts.
    • The effect lasts about 8 minutes.
  • Milking Rate:
    • Average milking takes about 5 minutes.
    • Adrenaline releases can block oxytocin effects.
  • Effects of Incomplete Milk-out:
    • Leads to a decline in milk production.

Milk Production Cycle

  1. Parturition (day 0)
  2. Colostrum Production (day 0-3):
    • First milk post-partum; rich in immunoglobulins.
    • Calf absorbs for about 24 hours; survival rate 50-70% lower without it.
    • Acceptable for human consumption by 3-5 days postpartum.
  3. Milk Production:
    • Rapid increase to peak (approximately 45-90 days) post-partum.
    • Each pound at peak may yield 200-250 lbs more for entire lactation.
    • Persistency: Degree of maintenance of lactation; calculated as:
      extPersistency=extThismonth’sproductionextLastmonth’sproductionimes100ext{Persistency} = \frac{ ext{This month’s production}}{ ext{Last month’s production}} imes 100
    • Normal persistency is about 85-90%.
    • Peak production in Holstein ~ 70-80 lb/day (8-10 gallons), very high-producing cows can reach 16 gallons/day.
  4. Rebreeding:
    • Desired production cycle length: 1 year. Average in U.S. is 13-13.5 months.
    • Average rebreeding at 90 days post-partum; possible at 45-60 days if healthy.
  5. End of Lactation:
    • Typically around 305 days (10 months).
  6. Dry Period (40-60 days):
    • Essential for rest and repair of mammary tissues and replenishing body tissues.

Milk Composition

  • Colostrum (1 day):
    • Total solids: 23.9%
    • Proteins: 14.0%
    • Casein: 4.8%
    • Immunoglobulins: 6.0%
    • Fat: 6.7%
    • Lactose: 2.7%
    • Minerals: 1.1%
  • Transitional Milk (3 days):
    • Total solids: 14.1%
    • Proteins: 5.1%
    • Casein: 3.8%
    • Immunoglobulins: 2.4%
    • Fat: 3.9%
    • Lactose: 4.4%
    • Minerals: 0.87%
  • Whole Milk (5 days):
    • Total solids: 13.6%
    • Proteins: 4.1%
    • Casein: 2.9%
    • Immunoglobulins: 0.1%
    • Fat: 4.3%
    • Lactose: 4.7%
    • Minerals: 0.81%

Factors Affecting Milk Production

  1. Breed
  2. Size: Larger cows produce more milk (~10x cow weight each lactation).
  3. Age
  4. Length of Dry Period:
    • Production cycle should be kept on 12-month intervals.
  5. Nutrition
  6. Body Condition
  7. Milking Frequency
  8. Season
  9. Disease
  10. Management:
    • Milking procedure and sanitation are crucial for success.
  11. Mastitis:
    • Inflammation of the udder caused by microbial infections (e.g., Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus).
    • Leads to impaired alveolar function, reduced milk yield, and increased white blood cell count.
    • Can spread through improper sanitation during milking.
    • Economic impact can result in losses totaling billions of dollars.

Calf Management

  • Uses of Dairy Calves:
    • Replacement Heifers: May need to replace ¼ to ⅓ per year.
    • Breeding Bulls
    • Veal Production: Calves should be 3 months of age or < 300 lbs.
    • Beef Production
  • Calf Management Practices:
    1. Weight: Calf will weigh 80 – 100 lbs.
    2. Colostrum Feeding: Administer within the first 12-24 hours post-birth (nurse or bottle).
    3. Transition to milk replacer: Feed up to 8 weeks, 8-10% of body weight.
    • Overfeeding can lead to scours, the leading cause of calf mortality.
    1. Solid Feed Introduction: Access to calf starter and high-quality hay at 1-2 weeks of age.
    • Feed 16-20% protein.
    • Hay assists in rumen functioning.
    1. Weaning: Calf should be weaned at 2-3 months; ensure starter is > 1 lb/day with hay available free choice.
    2. Management Tips: Avoid overfeeding to prevent decrease in current or future milk production and fat development in the udder.
    3. Breeding Heifers: At 15 months; target weight of 750-900 pounds for calving and entering production.

Relevant Courses

  • ADSC 3260: Dairy Evaluation and Selection
  • ADSC 3620: Dairy Production and Management
  • JAMS with Dr. Bohlen
  • Dairy Challenge with Dr. Bohlen