🐄 Cow
Also known as: dairy cow, cattle, Bos taurus
The world's main source of milk: ≈83% of global milk output (FAO, 2010). Dairy breeds give 20–40 L a day.
The cow is the planet’s main dairy species: according to the FAO, cow’s milk accounts for about four-fifths of world milk output. A cow starts giving milk after calving; a standard lactation is considered to be about 300 days, followed by a dry period before the next calving. In specialised breeds such as the Holstein, kept in more than 150 countries, daily yield at peak lactation can reach 20–40 litres or more.
Yields, however, depend heavily on conditions. In hot climates and on pasture-based farms people keep local cattle and zebu — they give less milk but cope better with heat, disease and poor fodder. That is why many countries cross local cows with dairy breeds to combine hardiness and yield.
The largest producers of cow’s milk are India, the United States and China. It is made into almost the whole range of dairy products, from butter and curd cheese to hard cheeses.
How it connects to milk
Links
- What milk it gives
- 🥛 Cow's milk
- What it gives
- 🥛 Milk
- Feeds with milk
- 🍼 Calf
- Belongs to
- 🔬 Mammal
- Takes part in
- 🔄 Milking
- How it is fed
- 🔄 Grazing, 🔄 Feeding
- Watered with
- 🌾 Drinking water
- Who cares for it
- 🧑🌾 Farmer, 👷 Animal scientist, 🧑⚕️ Veterinarian
- Associated with
- 🥛 Milk
- Where it is milked
- 🌍 East Africa
- Which peoples keep it
- 🧑🤝🧑 Maasai
- Part of
- 🐄 Cattle
Frequently asked questions
How much milk does a cow give per day?
It depends on breed and feeding: high-yielding dairy cows at peak lactation give 20–40 litres or more, while local cattle in the tropics and on pasture give several times less.
Why do cows produce milk?
As in all mammals, milk is produced after the birth of young. For lactation to resume, a cow has to calve regularly — usually once a year.
What share of the world’s milk comes from cows?
About 80%, according to FAO estimates; the rest comes from buffalo, goats, sheep, camels and other species.
History
What to read next
- 🥛 Cow's milk — The most widespread milk in the world: versatile, inexpensive and the basis of almost all dairy products.
- 🔄 Milking — 2–3 times a day, by hand or by machine.
- 🍼 Calf — The young of a cow or other cattle — zebu, yak, mithun. Drinks colostrum in its first days.
- 🌍 East Africa — Pastoral peoples for whom milk is the foundation of diet and status.
- 🧑🌾 Farmer — Owns or runs a farm and is responsible for the herd and milk yields.
Similar
🐂 Zebu · 🐃 Yak · 🐃 Mithun · 🐃 Water buffalo · 🐐 Goat · 🐕 Dog