USDA reported this morning that August dairy cow slaughter was 231,000 head, up 5,000 over July 2010. Complicating the numbers, of course, is the latest round of Cooperatives Working Together culling.

 

Compared to a year ago, August culling was actually 8,000 head fewer. And year-to-date, 86,000 fewer dairy cows have moved through Federally-inspected slaughter facilities. That’s a 4.5% decline,  reflective of the fact that dairy cow numbers have been again increasing and have been doing so since January. See August’s milk production report. USDA’s says there were 9.135 million dairy cows in August, down just 24,000 head from a year ago.