April 27, 2006

2005 Wyoming Milk Production Valued at $11.0 Million

Wyoming: Milk production in Wyoming during 2005 totaled 74.3 million pounds, up 17 percent from the 63.4 million pounds produced in 2004, according to Jennifer Sissom with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS. The average number of milk cows in the State during 2005 was 5,000 head, up from 4,300 in 2004. Milk production per cow averaged 14,860 pounds, up 1 percent from 14,744 pounds the previous year. These totals exclude milk sucked by calves.

The average fat content in 2005 milk was 3.68 percent, unchanged from 2004. Producers received $10.8 million for their milk sold in 2005, averaging $14.80 per 100 pounds. In 2004, producers received $9.83 million with an average of $15.80 per 100 pounds. An estimated 1.4 million pounds of milk were used on farms where produced, with 86 percent fed to calves. The remaining farm use was for milk, cream, and butter. The total value of all milk produced was $11.0 million.

United States: Milk production increased 3.5 percent in 2005 to 177 billion pounds. The rate per cow, at 19,576 pounds, was 609 pounds above 2004. The annual average number of milk cows on farms was 9.04 million head, up 29,000 head from 2004.

Cash receipts from marketings of milk during 2005 totaled $26.7 billion, 2 percent lower than 2004. Producer returns averaged $15.20 per hundredweight, 6 percent below 2004. Marketings totaled 176 billion pounds, 4 percent above 2004. Marketings include whole milk sold to plants and dealers and milk sold directly to consumers.

An estimated 1.08 billion pounds of milk were used on farms where produced, 2 percent less than 2004. Calves were fed 87 percent of this milk, with the remainder consumed in producer households. The total value of all milk produced was $26.9 billion.