# US dairy herd reaches 9.74 million cows, highest in over three decades

> The US dairy herd reached 9.74 million cows in September, with milk production up 2.4% year on year, marking twelve consecutive months of growth. Dairy exports rose 13.8% year on year, and the USDA raised its 2026 and 2027 milk production forecasts in the November WASDE.

- Date: 2026-11-13 · published 2026-11-13T15:15:45.105Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/98050-us-dairy-herd-reaches-9-74-million-cows-highest-in-over-three-decades
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md)

## Why it matters

A larger herd and higher USDA milk output forecasts point to more dairy supply, which weighs on dairy product prices and feed demand for dairy-related commodities. Rising export volumes partly offset this for buyers.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2021-06-25 | [As Higher Milk Production Forecasts Settle In, Can Export Demand Help Save Prices? - Dairy Herd](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46748-as-higher-milk-production-forecasts-settle-in-can-export-demand-help-save.md) | -2.6% | -3.6% |
| MILK | 2023-12-07 | [Monthly dairy products report shows mostly higher cheese production \| The Mighty 790 KFGO \| KFGO](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32706-monthly-dairy-products-report-shows-mostly-higher-cheese-production-the-mighty.md) | -0.7% | -7.4% |
| MILK | 2022-08-02 | [Higher US Milk Production, Demand Fears, Push Dairy Lower \| CZ app](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4577-higher-us-milk-production-demand-fears-push-dairy-lower-cz-app.md) | -11.5% | -10.7% |
| MILK | 2026-07-11 | [Cheese production higher, milk prices lower - Dairy Star](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18337-cheese-production-higher-milk-prices-lower-dairy-star.md) | +0.4% | +7.1% |
| MILK | 2023-07-13 | [USDA Lowers 2023 All-Milk Price Forecast, Milk Production Estimates Remain the Same - Dairy Herd](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35061-usda-lowers-2023-all-milk-price-forecast-milk-production-estimates-remain-the.md) | -0.2% | +25.1% |

## Sources

- dairynews.today: https://dairynews.today/news/estados_unidos_alcanza_9_74_millones_de_vacas_lecheras_m_ximo_en_m_s_de_tres_d_cadas_7282390.html

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.