Despite high beef prices, a smaller dairy herd and higher demand and prices for dairy cow replacements have now impacted cull cow slaughter rates for over a full year.
Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in April lowest since 2006.
Based on latest USDA monthly data released May 22, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in April 2025 was estimated at 207,200. While up 10,700 from March, it was 31,000 fewer than April 2024 and the lowest April total since 2006.
April 2024 had 26 nonholiday weekdays and Saturdays while March 2025 also had 26 days. Slaughter averaged 8,000 head per business day this year, 1,200 lower from a year earlier.
Weekly slaughter in 2025 continues to follow long-term trends. Through the week ending May 10, weekly dairy cow slaughter has trailed year-earlier levels in 18 of 19 weeks. Since September 2023 and through the week ending May 10, weekly dairy cow slaughter has now trailed year-earlier levels for 86 of 88 weeks, with a total decline of nearly 541,700 head over that period.
Heaviest dairy cow culling during April occurred in the Upper Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) at 56,500 head. That was followed in the Southwest (Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada) at 41,400 head.
Other monthly regional totals were estimated at 30,400 head in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia; 28,800 head in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas; and 28,200 head in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Primary data for the USDA’s Livestock Slaughter report is obtained from reports from about 900 federally inspected plants and nearly 1,850 state-inspected or custom-exempt slaughter plants.
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