Over the last two decades, the number of dairy herds in the U.S. has fallen significantly, but milk production has increased. It is a move analysts say has several explanations.
USDA’s Research Arm found in 2003, there were around 70,000 dairy herds in the United States. In 2023, there were a little more than 26,000. Despite the sharp decline, milk production was 33 percent larger, coming in around 226 billion pounds. The report says while there are fewer dairy cows, the remaining ones produce more milk.
Dairy farms have also become larger and more specialized in production, thanks to advancements in technology and automation.
