Modern Dairy Farm Facts You Might Not Know

We humans have been drinking cow milk for a long time, but there is plenty we don’t know about the modern dairy farm, dairy cows, and milk production. 

Most people have never been to a dairy farm - or any farm or ranch, for that matter. These days, you can take a virtual tour!  We’ll talk more about that later, but first, here are some dairy farm facts that might surprise you.

A Lot of Dairy Cows!

The USDA estimates there are more than 9.3 million dairy cows in the US.  California has the most dairy cows, at 1.7 million, followed by Wisconsin at 1.3 million. Idaho, Texas, and New York round out the top 5, with each having about 650,000 dairy cows.

In 1950, there were about 22 million dairy cows. While the number of cows has declined since then, the total has been relatively stable over the past 25 years. But the amount of milk produced over that 25-year period steadily increased, reaching 24.1 thousand pounds in 2023. In 1999 the figure was 17.76 thousand pounds.

By far the most common breed of dairy cow in the US is the Holstein - the large, black and white cows many of us associate with dairies. How large? Size does vary, but they average about 1,500 pounds. While most dairy cows in the US are Holsteins, there are other dairy cow breeds too.

How Many Dairy Farms?

There are nearly 50,000 dairy farms in the US.  It may surprise you to learn that about 95% of them are family-owned farms.

Economic Impact of the Dairy Industry

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the dairy industry has a huge economic footprint…or is that hoofprint…with an overall economic impact of $794 billion. That figure includes more than just dairy farms and extends to dairy product production and sales, and other related activities.  

You can find more dairy farm facts and statistics on the US Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Data page.

Dairy Cow Care

Farm animal welfare is a growing concern, and it’s something dairy farmers think about, too.  It’s a fact that healthy, happy dairy cows produce more, better quality milk. 

There are a number of organizations working to make sure the dairy industry operates to the highest standards. 

For example, these organizations include:

• The FARM program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management). FARM is open to all dairy farmers and covers animal care and environmental stewardship, among other topics. 

• DairyKind offers training and resources dedicated to improving animal health and well-being on dairy farms, with a focus on compassion.

  
  

Modern Milking Techniques

Gone are the days when cows were milked by a person sitting on a little stool. A modern dairy farm has a milking parlor to milk multiple cows at once. They come in different sizes and varieties and are designed to quickly and efficiently milk the cows without causing them stress or harm. 

Machine Milking

Modern dairy farms use machines to milk their cows.  It might sound like it would be rough on the cows, but machine milking is gentle and pain free, mimicking the suckling of a calf. 

Milking Hygiene

Both milking machines and cows’ udders are thoroughly cleaned before milking. Teats are cleaned and disinfected every single time a cow is milked. The pasteurized milk ordinance (PMO) requires that only clean and dry teats are milked. 

Milking machines are commonly used on large dairies, small dairies, organic dairies, backyard dairies, commercial dairies, and even goat dairies!

More Quick Dairy Farm Facts

What do dairy cows eat?

Cows need a varied, balanced diet to support good health and milk production. They are fed a mixture of grasses, often in the form of hay, as well as grains and other ingredients chosen for nutritional value. Vitamin, mineral, and protein supplements are also common.

Do cows really have four stomachs?

Sort of. Technically it’s just one stomach, but it has four compartments. Learn more about how cows digest their food.

How often do dairy farmers milk?

Usually twice a day.

Are dairy cows pregnant?

Like any mammal, to produce milk, a cow must give birth each year.

How long have humans been drinking cow’s milk?

Studies suggest we’ve been milking cows for 6,000 years!

Just for Fun

Have you ever heard of Pauline Wayne?  She was the last cow to live at the White House, and President Taft apparently loved her like a pet.

Pauline wasn’t the only famous cow.  From cartoon cows to real cows like Mini Moo, and even that poor cow blamed for the Great Chicago Fire (although she has since been declared not guilty), find out about more famous cows.

And, apparently, some cows like jazz.

Virtual Dairy Farm Tours

We mentioned earlier that most people have never been to a dairy farm. Not many people will make the journey from their home to a dairy farm for a tour, but now you can take a virtual tour that’s both fun and educational.

The tour, developed by DairyMax, can be viewed on your desktop or laptop computer, on a mobile device, or for the full experience, you can view it using a VR headset!  DairyMax used 360-degree cameras and drone technology to create the tours, which it says combine interactive virtual reality with engaging guided tours. Check it out!