California was the leading U.S. state in terms of the overall number of milk cows, with a total of over 1.7 million milk cows as of 2021. The total number of milk cows on farms in the United States shows that California holds a significant share of the total number of milk cows in the country. Unsurprisingly, California is also the leading milk producing state in the United States.
Dairy industry in the U.S.
According to the USDA, milk from U.S. farms is 90 percent water, with milk fat and skim solids making up the remaining 10 percent. Cow milk is a component of several dietary staples, such as cheese, butter, and yoghurt. Dairy is a very important industry in the United States, with this sector alone creating significant employment throughout the United States. The overall income of dairy farms in the U.S. amounted to about 40.4 billion U.S. dollars. Holtsein is the most popular breed of dairy cow farmed in the United States. Holstein have the highest milk production per cow in comparison to any other breed.
Where is the U.S. positioned in the global dairy market?
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US Department of Agriculture. (January 24, 2022). Leading 10 U.S. states based on number of milk cows from 2019 to 2021 (in 1,000s)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/194962/top-10-us-states-by-number-of-milk-cows/
US Department of Agriculture. "Leading 10 U.S. states based on number of milk cows from 2019 to 2021 (in 1,000s)*." Chart. January 24, 2022. Statista. Accessed May 19, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/194962/top-10-us-states-by-number-of-milk-cows/
US Department of Agriculture. (2022). Leading 10 U.S. states based on number of milk cows from 2019 to 2021 (in 1,000s)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 19, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/194962/top-10-us-states-by-number-of-milk-cows/
US Department of Agriculture. "Leading 10 U.S. States Based on Number of Milk Cows from 2019 to 2021 (in 1,000s)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Jan 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/194962/top-10-us-states-by-number-of-milk-cows/
US Department of Agriculture, Leading 10 U.S. states based on number of milk cows from 2019 to 2021 (in 1,000s)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/194962/top-10-us-states-by-number-of-milk-cows/ (last visited May 19, 2022)