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June Is National Dairy Month: Fun Facts About Dairy Foods
The Wisconsin Cheeseman ^ | June, 2024 | The Wisconsin Cheeseman

Posted on 06/08/2024 9:08:30 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

Few things are as refreshing—or nutritious—on a warm summer day as a tall glass of cold milk. With essential nutrients like calcium, potassium and vitamin A, plus protein to help build and repair muscle tissue, milk is a great choice for many active people. Even more exciting are the foods made from milk: a slice of cheese temptingly melted over a grilled hamburger or a dish of ice cream providing the perfect summer dessert. No wonder the dairy industry chose June as the perfect month to celebrate dairy foods and the family dairy farms that produce them.

What Is National Dairy Month?

National Dairy Month is an annual observance in the United States that takes place during the month of June. It is a celebration of the dairy industry and aims to promote the consumption of dairy products while recognizing the contributions of dairy farmers and the importance of dairy in the American diet.

During National Dairy Month, various activities and events are organized to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of dairy products and the economic impact of the dairy industry. It serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the role of dairy in a healthy diet, highlighting its contribution to providing essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, protein, and more.

The History of National Dairy Month

National Milk Month was established in 1937 by a group of chain stores to promote drinking milk and increase demand at a time when cows were turned out to pasture and milk production was at a peak. It ran from June 10 to July 10, with the original theme of “Keep Youthful—Drink Milk.” The National Dairy Council stepped in to promote the cause in 1939, adjusted the timeframe to encompass the month of June, and renamed the event “June Dairy Month.” In 1955, the American Dairy Association took over the promotion of June Dairy Month, which has developed into an annual celebration of the contributions the dairy industry has made to the world over the centuries…actually, millennia.

Fun Facts About Dairy Foods

Milk Facts

U.S. dairy farms produce roughly 21 billion gallons of milk annually.

All 50 states in the U.S. have dairy farms.

Dairy farmers are paid by the hundredweight (100 pounds), not by the gallon. There are approximately 8.6 pounds of milk per gallon.

99 percent of all U.S. households purchase milk. The average American consumes almost 25 gallons of milk each year.

About 72 percent of the calcium in the U.S. food supply comes from dairy foods.

To get the amount of calcium in an 8-ounce glass of milk, you’d have to eat seven oranges or six slices of wheat bread.

Fresh milk will stay fresher longer if you add a pinch of salt to each quart.

Fun Facts About Cheese & Other Dairy Products

The natural yellow color of butter comes mainly from the beta-carotene found in the grass cows eat.

Americans eat more than 300,000 tons of yogurt per year.

About 300 varieties of cheese are sold in the United States.

The most popular cheese in America is Cheddar.

Vanilla is America’s favorite ice cream flavor.

It takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.

It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream.

It takes 21.8 pounds of milk to make one pound of butter.

If Wisconsin (America’s Dairyland) were a country, it would rank fourth in the world in terms of total cheese production, behind the U.S., Germany and France, and just ahead of Italy.

Dairy Cow Facts

The modern cow is descended from a now-extinct wild bovine called the aurochs (pronounced OR-ox). Humans domesticated the aurochs about 10,000 years ago, and have been consuming cows’ milk ever since. The first cow in America arrived in the Jamestown colony in 1611 and, until the 1850s, nearly every family had its own cow. So for June Dairy Month, let’s celebrate the dairy cow and the products made from her milk with some fun dairy facts!

The average dairy cow weighs about 1,400 lbs.

Cows have 32 teeth, all of them on the bottom with a dental pad on top.

Cows have an acute sense of smell, and can smell something up to six miles away.

A cow eats 90–100 pounds of food and drinks about 35 gallons of water (the equivalent of a bathtub full) every day.

A cow spends about 6 hours eating and 8 hours chewing its cud every day.

A cow does not actually have four stomachs, but a single stomach with four compartments:

Rumen – The first part of the cow’s stomach helps break down complex plant products like grass.

Reticulum – The food is then mixed with saliva to produce a cud, which the cow brings back up to her mouth to chew and break down further.

Omasum – Where all the water is absorbed out of the food.

Abomasum – Where the food is finally digested, as in a human stomach.

A dairy cow produces an average of 6.3 gallons of milk daily. That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year and 350,000 glasses of milk in a lifetime.

A cow is more valuable for its milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt than for its beef.

So now that you know more about milk and dairy products than your friends do, why not get everyone together for a grilled cheese and ice cream? Celebrate June Dairy Month!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: cheese; cows; dairy; facts; milk; wisconsin
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1 posted on 06/08/2024 9:08:30 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

2 posted on 06/08/2024 9:12:02 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: All

“A cow spends about 6 hours eating and 8 hours chewing its cud every day.”

So, a cow puts in a 14 hour work day; almost as much as her farmer! ;)


3 posted on 06/08/2024 9:13:10 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

4 posted on 06/08/2024 9:29:54 AM PDT by al baby (I know sarcasm )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
The appetizing cheese tray pictured makes me want a cheese sandwich.


5 posted on 06/08/2024 9:32:15 AM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name . )
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To: al baby

I am confused, I thought June was now fag month.


6 posted on 06/08/2024 9:32:48 AM PDT by armourenthusiast (I capitalize everything related to South)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Great, nice to have have a diversion from Gay Pride Month.


7 posted on 06/08/2024 9:38:06 AM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: al baby

Lucky dog!


8 posted on 06/08/2024 9:38:46 AM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: Huskrrrr

Make that Lucky Cat


9 posted on 06/08/2024 9:39:14 AM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The Gaystapo ain’t gonna like it.


10 posted on 06/08/2024 10:25:50 AM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I’m offended by this article.

Is there a lactose-intolerant version?


11 posted on 06/08/2024 10:25:50 AM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: moovova

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNZrveT46fw


12 posted on 06/08/2024 10:28:53 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes” - Possibly Mark Twain.)
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To: armourenthusiast

I am surprised they haven’t invented a fag che.....uh, never mind.


13 posted on 06/08/2024 10:33:40 AM PDT by dforest ( )
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

Lol!


14 posted on 06/08/2024 10:34:07 AM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: dforest

“I am surprised they haven’t invented a fag che”

it was invented many years ago: it’s called quiche ... and REAL men don’t ...


15 posted on 06/08/2024 10:53:33 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

There is a Cuban dish named, “Vaca Frita.” It is shredded, fried beef. “Vaca Frita” translates as “Fried Cow.” Of course, it is not fried cow. It is fried bull. I have tried to explain that to Cubans but they disbelieve me. I tell them that the females are kept for reproduction and dairy products. By the time that they can no longer provide diary products or offspring, etc., the meat is too tough to eat. They still disbelieve! ;-)


16 posted on 06/08/2024 11:05:12 AM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (We are very sorry, Mr. Franklin. We were not able to keep it! ;-()
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

It is amazing how much time animals spend eating.


17 posted on 06/08/2024 11:30:27 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
The natural yellow color of butter comes mainly from the beta-carotene found in the grass cows eat.

Not true. Butter is off white. I've read that the yellow comes from carrot juice dye.

18 posted on 06/08/2024 11:31:40 AM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Even as a baby, I detested milk. Now I don’t eat artery-clogging saturated fats like cheese and butter.

When is Extra virgin Olive Oil month?

Probably the wrong question to ask a Wisconsin person. :}


19 posted on 06/08/2024 11:39:04 AM PDT by Veto! (FJB Sucks Rocks)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I just finished eating some Colby-Jack Cheese, and now I see more cheese. You’re making me hungry again.


20 posted on 06/08/2024 12:06:46 PM PDT by EvilCapitalist (Pets are no substitute for children)
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