Dairy Industry

The Oregon dairy industry is a community-conscious, caring business that contributes over $1 billion to Oregon's economic well being each year. 350 dairy farm families, with the help of their 120,000 dairy cows, and the care of the 20 Oregon dairy processors throughout the state, consistently produce top quality, scrumptious dairy products for consumers to enjoy. Oregon dairymen and women care about their cows, their communities, and the land, air and water of Oregon.

The industry, founded when the country was settled about 150 years ago, is committed to stewardship of the land, and Oregon is consistently ranked top in the nation for milk quality.

We believe that success in our industry is based on quality and commitment at all levels. We value the relationship and trust of our consumers and look forward to continuing to provide Oregonians with a wide variety of delicious and healthy dairy products.

The average farm size in Oregon is 300 acres, and consists of approximately 450 dairy animals per farm. About 75 percent of these animals are Holstein, 20 percent are Jersey and the remaining 5 percent are other breeds. Average milk production per cow is 19,000 pounds annually. Most animals are bred with artificial insemination and are milked twice a day. In coastal areas the cows are pastured most of the year, in the rest of the state they are housed in free-stall barns.

Other Resources
Oregon Dairy Farmers