Ever wondered how much milk a cow produces each day? Is it very much at all? Fergus Collins takes a look, with some help using DEFRA figures.
How much milk does a cow produce per day?
Cattle breeds are divided into those that are raised for beef and those that primarily produce milk, though there are some dual-purpose breeds. In the UK, these utility breeds include Aberdeen Angus and Hereford. Head and shoulders – and udders – above all breeds for milk production is the Holstein-Friesian. This familiar black and white cow has been bred to be a super-athlete in its field, producing an average of 22 litres of milk a day but reaching up to 60 litres in peak lactation periods.
How much milk does a cow produce per year?
DEFRA figures show a significant increase in annual milk production per cow in the UK from 6,763 litres in in 2004 to 8,219 litres in 2024. This is due to advances in feed technology and the use of artificial insemination to hasten the next lactation period.
Animal welfare organisations have voiced concerns about conditions dairy cows experience, particularly those kept indoors all year.
Main image: farmer pouring raw milk from a cow/Credit: Getty
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