With revised holiday sale dates, the dairy replacement heifer trade was modest countrywide through December. Between year-end 2022 and 2023, the average Holstein heifer springer price for the four reported markets was almost comparable, at about $1,700 per head. Global dairy demand is also in the “steady-but-uninspired” category for the end of 2023. Phil Plourd, President of Ever.Ag Insights, detected poor comments on dairy demand globally on Ever.Ag’s monthly Forecast Update Live webcast. “Until we see some traction in global demand, it’s difficult to believe that these markets can go much higher,” Plourd mentioned this. Meanwhile, beef-cross calves continue to be the year’s biggest dairy market story. In the last month, Holstein heifer calves in Pennsylvania averaged $50-90/head. Their beef-cross heifer equivalents were 7 to more than 10 times more expensive, ranging from $460-685/head.
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