General Dairy Stats
What is the average milk production of a Holstein cow per day (in gallons)?
9, 75 lbs.
(Holstein Association)
How many stomachs (or compartments) do dairy cows have?
4
Rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum
What substance makes up the majority of milk?
Water
(About 87%)
What percentage of milk in the US goes towards cheese production?
42%
(NASS-USDA)
How much milk is produced in the US every year? (Gallons)
26.4 billion gallons (227 billon lbs)
(USDA)
What was the value of milk products sold from dairy farms in the US in 2022?
57.3 billion
(ERS, USDA)
How many hours a day do cows spend lying down? (often times chewing their "cud")
10-12 hours
If you buy "2% milk", what does the 2% refer to?
Milk fat
(most milk is at least 4% from most dairies)
How many pounds of cheese does the average American consume each year?
42 lbs.
(2023, Dairy Herd)
What is the word for heating milk to remove most of the bacteria and extend the shelf life?
Pasteurization
According to USDA, how much of the retail price of a gallon of milk actually goes to the dairy farmer?
49%
How many gallons of water does a typical dairy cow that is giving milk drink in one day?
30-50 gallons
(they will drink a lot more in hot weather)
Name the 5 major categories of nutrients in milk
Water, milk fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals/vitamins
Major proteins are casein and whey. Major carb is lactose
What is the #1 cheese consumed in the US?
Mozzarella
(Cheddar is #2)
How many member families are in MO Farm Bureau?
More than 157,000 member families
How many dairy cows are producing milk in the US?
9.3 million as of 2024
(there were 25.6 million cows in 1944)
52 lbs.
(A large portion of diet is energy for milk production)
What two specific components of milk help with strong bones and prevent osteoporosis?
Calcium and vitamin D
What are the top 2 states for cheese production in the US?
Wisconsin and California
What percent of American households purchased cow's milk in 2021?
92%
What are the top 5 states for milk production?
Wisconsin, Idaho, Texas, California, and New York
How much manure (potential fertilize) do all of the cows in US produce each year?
455 billion lbs.
(Many uses for manure-fertilize, fuel, compost, etc)
How many different tests are conducted on milk before it reaches your glass?
17 different tests
(Discover Dairy)
Casein
Which dairy breed has the highest milk fat on average?
Jersey