North Carolina Dairy Industry Is Grade A

Got milk? In North Carolina, yes, we do! About 900 million pounds of it annually, in fact. This is a very important statistic given that it takes 25 pounds of whole milk to produce just 1 gallon of ice cream.

North Carolina produces nearly 1 billion pounds of milk each year

Most of the dairy farms in North Carolina are family-owned and operated farms. These farm families often care for more than 300 milk cows, with each cow producing 8 gallons of milk per day. The dairy industry in our state is a thriving business, with milk and milk products contributing around $200 million in farm gate receipts annually.

NC State Extension supports our dairy farmers and the industry through a statewide network of experts and partnerships. Current research and Extension efforts include utilizing new technology that monitors cow health and well-being, exploring practices to increase sustainability and competitiveness of dairy farms, and ongoing innovation related to milk quality, calf nutrition and value-added product development. In short, we grow North Carolina dairy.

Discover more about how NC State is moo-ving the industry forward in our latest video featuring Brittany Whitmire, dairy Extension associate in agricultural and resource economics.

Fun Dairy Facts

• Cows drink around 35 gallons of water daily
• On the farm, milk is measured in pounds, not gallons
• The average American consumes nearly 35 gallons of milk a year
• Dairy cows are more valuable than beef cattle based on the products they produce
• Cows are milked two or three times per day
• Cows only have bottom teeth
• Dairy cows can produce 125 pounds of saliva per day

Compiled from various sources including the American Dairy Association and NC State Extension