STATS: COW NUMBERS UP, HERD NUMBERS DOWN
Monday, July 24th, 2006 -- 9:32 AM
Farm experts say the long trend of declining cow numbers in Wisconsin's dairy industry is over ? however, Clark County?s dairy herd count has fallen below 1,000.University of Wisconsin dairy economist Robert Cropp says Wisconsin has 1.4-million dairy cows -- up eight thousand from last year.
While it's not even a one percent increase, it's still significant because it's the first time there has been an increase in cow numbers since the early 1980s, Cropp says.
Wisconsin once led the nation in milk production before losing the distinction to California.
However, Clark County's inventory of commercial dairy farms now sits at 999--the first time that number fell below a thousand in decades.
Statewide, there were 14,597 herds milking during the month of July--about 41 less than June. Compared to last year at this time, about 460 herds either sold out or merged with other operations.
Clark County has the most herds in the state.
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