Milk production in the United States was down by 69 million pounds (31.364 million liters) year-on-year in April 2024. This is even as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts higher overall production in 2024 than in 2023.

At 19.1 billion pounds (8.682 billion liters), April’s national output also decreased from March 2024’s by 500 million pounds (227.3 million liters). 

The main contributing factor was a depreciation in milk cow numbers by 55,000 in the 24 leading dairy states. These states together produced 18.3 billion pounds (8.318 billion liters) or 95.8% of American milk this April. As dairy cattle numbers shrunk, milk production in these 24 states fell by 0.2% month-on-month.

Nationally, there were approximately 74,000 lesser heads of dairy cows in April 2024 than in April 2023. 

The leading production center is still California whose herd stood at 1.7 million in April to Wisconsin’s 1.2 million heads. 

Wisconsin’s Milk Production Up

Incidentally, while output was falling elsewhere, Wisconsin’s milk production was trending higher, both monthly and yearly.

The total dairy herd upped to 1.27 million, 2000 heads more than in March 2024 and 4000 heads more than in April 2023.

Milk output in April also spiked to 2.72 billion pounds (1.236 billion liters), 2% higher than in April 2023.

Ultimately, this growth overcomes current odds, including the effect of avian flu on dairy herds across the U.S. 

Higher Milk Production 2024/25 Forecast

Despite the national dip, USDA estimates 2024 milk output to exceed that of 2023 by 1 billion pounds (454 million liters).

The 2024 estimate was 227.3 billion pounds (103.3 billion liters) in mid-May, already above 2023’s 226.4 billion pounds (102.9 billion liters). 

Similar trends will also visit upon 2025, which USDA expects to overreach 2024 production by 0.9%. The agency cites a possible improvement in cattle numbers as the reason for the 2025 boost.

Thus, even as U.S.’ milk production records a downward trend in April 2024, there is still a ray of hope.

U.S. Milk Statistics    

How much milk does the average American drink per year? The average U.S. citizen takes 130 pounds (59.1 liters) of milk per year (2022 data). In 2000, the per capita consumption rate had reached a high of 196 pounds (89.1 liters).  Which state produces the most milk in the U.S.? California, at 3.54 billion pounds (1.61 billion liters) per month in April 2024.

What was the dairy cattle herd in the first two months of 2024? In January 2024, there were 8.870 million dairy cows in the U.S., which climbed to 8.878 million in February. Which is the most popular milk product in the U.S.? Based on the sales value, whole milk leads in popularity at 14.818 billion pounds (6.735 billion liters) per year, in 2022. Other popular products include reduced fat milk, skimmed milk, fat-reduced milk, flavored whole milk and buttermilk in descending order.