US: January culling hits 5-month high but slowdown continues

A smaller milking herd, tight replacement heifer supplies to keep barns full and slight improvements in milk income margins contributed to a slowdown in dairy culls marketed for beef to end 2023. That trend has continued to start 2024. Based on latest USDA monthly data released Feb. 22, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in January 2024 was estimated at 250,200. While up 25,500 from December and the highest monthly total since August, it was 47,700 fewer than January 2023 and the lowest January total since 2010. Through Feb. 10, USDA Ag Marketing Service estimates indicate the number of dairy cows marketed for beef has now trailed year-ago levels for 23 consecutive weeks, dating back to Sept. 9, 2023, and was down 151,000 from the same period a year earlier. January 2023 had 26 non-holiday weekdays and Saturdays while January 2024 had 27 days. Slaughter averaged 9,266 head per business day this year, down about 2,191 from a year earlier. The USDA ...