How many dairy farms are located in each of the United States and
Canada, and what states/provinces are they situated.  How many dairy
cows are there in each of the United States and Canada.  How many new
dairy calves are introduced into each of the United States and Canada
each year.

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 01 Oct 2003 10:40 PDT

Hi eight,
I can provide you with the first 2 requests regarding the United
States. I will need to extract this information one state at a time
from a database. However, the information for locating the number of
new dairy calves introduced each year does not appear to be available.

Let me know if the information I do have will suffice as an answer.
Thanks.

Regards,
rainbow~

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Clarification of Question by eight-ga on 01 Oct 2003 12:43 PDT

Rather than providing the number dairy calves introduced each year,
can you provide the average milk producing lifespan of a dairy cow?

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 01 Oct 2003 13:41 PDT

Yes, I can get that information for you. Do you still need the data for Canada too?
rainbow~

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Clarification of Question by eight-ga on 01 Oct 2003 15:22 PDT

Canada is not necessary, but it would be great if the information is
readily available.

Hi eight,

The following is the result of my research for the various questions
you inquired regarding dairy farms and the milk cow population for the
United States. This information was extracted and compiled from the
United States Department of Agriculture website. The information is
taken from the two most recent censuses, 2001 and 2002.

Source: USDA: National Agricultural Statistics Service
http://www.nass.usda.gov/



STATE       NO. of DAIRY FARMS      NO. of DAIRY COWS
-----       ------------------      -----------------

Alabama             250                   20,000
Alaska               30                    1,200
Arizona             250                  146,000
Arkansas            345                   32,000
California        2,700                1,647,000
Colorado            800                  100,000
Connecticut         310                   24,000
Delaware            120                    9,300
Florida             510                  150,000
Georgia             770                   85,000
Hawaii               50                    6,000
Idaho             1,000                  388,000
Illinois          1,900                  115,000
Indiana           2,900                  150,000
Iowa              3,500                  209,000
Kansas            1,200                  103,000
Kentucky          2,900                  122,000
Louisiana           610                   50,000
Maine               412                   37,000
Maryland            950                   81,000
Massachusetts       350                   21,000
Michigan          3,300                  299,000
Minnesota         7,000                  487,000
Mississippi         302                   34,000
Missouri          3,700                  137,000
Montana             650                   18,000 
Nebraska          1,100                   67,000
Nevada              150                   25,000
New Hampshire       260                   18,000
New Jersey          250                   13,000
New Mexico          500                  299,000
New York          7,100                  678,000
North Carolina      410                   64,000
North Dakota        515                   40,000
Ohio              5,200                  262,000
Oklahoma          1,700                   88,000
Oregon              820                  114,000
Pennsylvania     10,300                  585,000
Rhode Island         30                    1,400
South Carolina      240                   20,000
South Dakota      1,200                   96,000
Tennessee         1,500                   88,000
Texas             1,900                  309,000
Utah                760                   93,000
Vermont           1,459                  154,000
Virginia          1,000                  120,000
Washington          750                  247,000
West Virginia       500                   16,000
Wisconsin        17,800                1,271,000
Wyoming             260                    4,000




The data for Canada for the year 2000 (in pdf format) can be found at
the following site:
Canadian Dairy Information Centre
http://www.dairyinfo.gc.ca/factsfigures.pdf



The following are excerpts regarding the productive, or
milk-producing, lifespan of a dairy cow.

“The average productive life of a dairy cow is short (approximately 3
- 4 years). Many cows are culled primarily because of reproductive
failure, low milk yield, udder breakdown, feet and leg weaknesses, and
mastitis…”
“…Dairy cows are milked for ten months, and then are “dry” for two
months. They give birth at the end of the two month dry period,
causing them to start producing milk again.”

Vegan Outreach
http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack/doesnthurtthecow.html


“While some cows may live considerably longer, the average productive
life of a Holstein is 3 to 4 years.”

Holstein USA
http://www.holsteinusa.com/html/thecow1.html



Search criteria:
“number of” “dairy farms” “united states”
“number of” “dairy cows” “united states”
“number of” “milk cows” “united states”
average milk-producing period “dairy cow”
average productive life “dairy cow”


I hope the information provided is helpful. If you have any questions
regarding my answer please don't hesitate to ask before rating.

Best regards,
rainbow-ga