But milk production was down by 23 per cent in the summer from the spring.
The average number of milking cows per farm fell by 500 to 4,000 head compared with summer a year ago.
The government counted 9.41 million dairy cows, the same as the spring, but less than the summer a year earlier.
And another report said today’s cows produce six per cent more milk, consume flour per cent less feed and use 13 per cent less land than they did in 2007.
That report is from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy Farmers of America.
North American dairy cows also produce eight per cent less emissions and consume six per cent less water than they did 14 years ago.
