News Milk
Avian flu not affecting milk production in the US
The milk supply in the United States continues to show predictable supply figures, despite the outbreaks of avian flu in the American dairy industry.
These figures are from the USDA. They show that the milk supply in the 24 major states in June, compared year on year, had decreased by 0.8% to 8.16 million tons. This decline is exactly the same as in May. Looking at the entire second quarter, the decline is also 0.8%. Throughout the year, the difference compared to last year has been less than one percent, except in February due to the leap year effect.
The American dairy herd is also mutating steadily. In June, the number of dairy cows increased by 2,000 head to 8.89 million, which is a negligible percentage difference. Compared to a year earlier, there has been a decrease of 37,000 dairy cows. In addition to a small decrease in the dairy herd, the average production per cow also slightly decreased in June.
Avian flu
The production in California and Wisconsin, together accounting for a third of the American milk pool, show a divergent picture. In California, the decline exceeded the national average, while in Wisconsin, production has actually slightly increased. Both states are still free from the avian flu virus.
Avian flu has not yet had an effect on American milk production. By the end of last week, the virus had been detected on 171 farms spread across 13 states. Out of a total of 26,000 American dairy farms, the impact remains relatively limited for now. Nevertheless, the spread of the virus is national news in the US, as it is also dangerous for humans. Various pharmaceutical companies are currently working on developing a vaccine.
