- California has been the nation's leading dairy state since 1993, when it surpassed Wisconsin in milk production. California is ranked first in the U.S. in the production of total milk, butter, ice cream, yogurt, nonfat dry milk, and whey protein concentrate. California is second in cheese production. (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
- California leads the nation in total milk production. In 2007, California produced a record 40.6 billion pounds of milk - 22 percent of the nation's total production. (USDA)
- Dairy farming is the leading agricultural commodity in California, producing $7.3 billion in annual sales in 2007. (CDFA)
- California's dairy business generated $47.4 billion in economic activity and more than 434,000 full-time jobs in California in 2004. (CMAB, J/D/G Consulting)
- California's nearly 2,000 dairy farms house 1.83 million milk cows. Approximately one out of every five dairy cows in the U.S. lives in California. (CDFA, USDA)
- The average size of a dairy herd in California in 2006 was 903 cows. (CDFA)
- Milk is a rich source of both calcium and vitamin D, important nutrients for all age groups.
- One ounce of natural cheese such as Cheddar, Jack or Mozzarella contains approximately 20 percent of a person's recommended daily calcium intake. (USDA)
- California's milk standards exceed federal standards because California processors add nonfat milk solids which offer improved taste and nutritional benefits. California milks exceed the federal guidelines for the amounts of calcium and protein in each serving.
*All data provided by the California Milk Advisory Board, except as noted.
An instrumentality of the Department of Food & Agriculture, State of California.
Last Updated: March 2008
Dairy Cow Facts
- There are six breeds of dairy cows in California, including the black and white Holstein, the Jersey, the Brown Swiss, the Guernsey, the Ayrshire and the Milking Shorthorn.
- Cows are mature female cattle that have had a calf.
- Heifers are young female cattle that have not had a calf.
- Bulls are mature male cattle.
- Dairy cows must give birth to a calf in order to produce milk, and then they are able to produce it for 10 months. At that point, they are bred again. Their production cycle lasts for 4 to 7 years.
- Dairy cows are milked 2 to 3 times a day and produce 8 to 9 gallons a day. That's close to 3,000 gallons a year.
- Cows have a stomach with four compartments to efficiently digest many different types of food.
- For more information about modern dairy farming, visit www.DairyFarmingToday.org
- Read about today's California dairies and care given to dairy cows in California here.
*An instrumentality of the Department of Food & Agriculture, State of California.
June 2008
