Celebrating National Dairy Month
by Jenny Alonge
June 1 is World Milk Day and the start of National Dairy Month, which recognizes the importance of America’s hardworking dairy farmers and the nutritious products they provide. Without these dedicated individuals, your cereal would be dry, your coffee would be bitter, and your pizza would lack the ooey-gooey goodness of cheese. To celebrate, we are providing fun information about all things dairy related.
Dairy historical review
People have been drinking milk for thousands of years. Some dairy timeline highlights include:
- 8000 BC — Aurochs, the modern cow’s wild ancestors, were first domesticated 8,000 to 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent area of the Near East.
- 4000 BC — Scientists analyzed degraded fats on unearthed potshards and discovered that Neolithic farmers in Britain and Northern Europe were among the first to milk cattle for human consumption. In addition, evidence from 6,000-year-old skeletons found in Kenya and Sudan indicates that they consumed some type of dairy product. These findings mean people were ingesting dairy before humans evolved the milk gene that allowed proper digestion.
- 1525 — Cattle were shipped to the New World, landing in Vera Cruz, Mexico. They soon made their way across the Rio Grande, proliferated in the wild, and became known as Texas Cattle.
- 1796 — English physician Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids seemed immune to the smallpox plague that swept through Europe and created a smallpox vaccine based on this observation.
- 1862 — French biologist Louis Pasteur developed a pasteurization technique that removed harmful bacteria from products, including wine, beer, juice, eggs, and milk.
- 1937 — Grocery organizations established National Milk Month to increase milk sales during the summer months.
- 1939 — June officially became National Dairy Month.
Interesting facts about dairy farmers
Dairy farmers work hard seven days a week, 365 days a year. Interesting facts include:
- According to the USDA, 94.2% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated, often by multiple generations, and each contributes to the farm’s success.
- Human hands never touch the milk during its travels from cow to consumer.
- USDA statistics show that, compared with 1960, U.S. dairy farmers produce almost three times more milk with about half the number of cows, thereby reducing the required amount of feed, water, and space, and less manure production.
- Compared with 1944, producing a gallon of milk today requires 90% less cropland and 65% less water, with a 63% lower carbon footprint.
- The U.S. dairy industry is responsible for less than 2% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and plans to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050.
- According to a February 2023 USDA milk production report, U.S. production for January totaled 19 billion pounds, with per-cow production up 18 pounds from the previous year. The herd size increased 38,000 head on the year and 9,000 from the previous month.
- Michigan has the highest per cow milk output at 2,285 pounds, more than 200 pounds above average.
Interesting facts about dairy cows
Dairy farmers keep their cows happy and healthy to improve milk production. Interesting facts about dairy cows include:
- The six breeds responsible for producing U.S. milk include Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn. A seventh breed, Red and White, is a Holstein variation.
- The average dairy cow produces about 6.3 gallons of milk each day and 2,300 gallons each year. A Holstein cow named Robthom Suzette Paddy from the family-run Robthom Farm near Springfield, Missouri, holds the record. At her peak, she produced 200 pounds a day, and 59,298 pounds in one year.
- Dairy cows move constantly when grazing and can cover up to eight miles per day.
- Lactating cows drink as much as 420 pounds of water per day. They normally drink about 30 to 50 gallons of water a day, but this can double in hot conditions.
- Lactating cows eat about 100 pounds of feed a day.
- Cows don’t need much sleep and spend only about 30 minutes in deep sleep, divided into 6 to 10 short periods, each day.
Interesting facts about milk
Milk has been an American diet staple for centuries. Facts include:
- Milk is the only food that contains every nutrient necessary for survival.
- Americans drink about 21 billion gallons of milk annually, with the average person consuming about 18 gallons a year.
- According to a 2013 study, nations that consume more dairy per capita win more Nobel Prizes. Sweden leads the way at 31.855 prizes, and each Swede consumes about 772 pounds of milk annually.
- Milk is 85% to 95% water. The remaining volume comes from vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.
- Milk is white because of the fat content. The fat and protein molecules inside milk reflect all light wavelengths, making the beverage appear white.
- Drinking milk reduces acidity in the mouth, combating plaque formation, and reducing cavity risk.
- Most milk alternatives have only half real milk’s nutrients, yet cost nearly twice as much.
- The U.S. dairy industry has repeatedly attempted to sue producers of dairy alternatives, but in 2018 the court ruled that almond milk will unlikely be confused with dairy milk.
Look for events and activities scheduled in your area celebrating National Dairy Month. And the next time you enjoy a glass of milk or offer your child a yogurt snack, remember the dairy farm families who work tirelessly to produce these nutritious products.
Learn more, see dairy recipes on the Dairy Alliance website.
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