Pa. milk production in 2008 down 1 percent from 2007

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s milk production for 2008 totaled 10,575 million pounds, down 107 million pounds or 1 percent from 2007.

Ranked fifth

Pennsylvania ranked fifth in milk production for 2008, behind California, Wisconsin, New York and Idaho.

The average number of milk cows during the year was 549,000, which was 1,000 less than the previous year.

Production per cow during 2008 totaled 19,262 pounds, compared to 19,422 pounds during 2007.

The annual production of milk for the U.S. during 2008 was 190 billion pounds, 2.3 percent above 2007.

Revisions to 2007 production increased the annual total 52 million pounds. Revised 2008 production was up 293 million pounds from last month’s publication.

Average milk production per cow in the U.S. for 2008 averaged 20,396 pounds, 192 pounds above 2007.

Average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 14.8 percent from 1999.

Average number

The average number of milk cows on farms in the U.S. during 2008 was 9.32 million head, up 1.4 percent from 2007. Average number of milk cows was revised up 44,000 head for 2008.