Record milk production levels per cow in the 23 major states in the US continued during the month of July, according to the latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,969lb for July; this equated to an increase of 21lb on the same month in 2016.

This is the highest production per cow for the month of July since the 23 state series began in 2003, the USDA added.

During the month of July, the total number of dairy cows on farms across the 23 major states equalled 8.73 million head. This was 72,000 head more than July 2016, but 1,000 head less than June 2017, figures show.

Taking these figures into account, total milk production across the 23 major states was up 1.9% during the seventh month of this year – totalling 17.2 billion pounds.

Meanwhile, revised figures for the month of June showed that milk production equated to 16.9 billion pounds – an increase of 1.7% on figures from June 2016.

The June revision represented an increase of 5 million pounds, or a rise of less than 0.1%, from last month’s preliminary production estimate, the USDA added.

milk production, US

Image source: USDA

Across the entire US, milk production during the month of July was up 1.8% – totalling 18.2 billion pounds. Production per cow in the US averaged 1,940 pounds for July, 20 pounds above July 2016, the USDA revealed.

The number of dairy cows on farms in the US amounted to 9.4 million head in July. This represented a jump of 74,000 head in the space of 12 months. However, the dairy cow population in the US fell by 1,000 head compared to June of this year, figures show.

Milk production statistics for the month of July for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are expected to be released in the coming days.