Five facts for a dairy good month

It's National Dairy Month and there's plenty to celebrate in the Lone Star State.

Cool off with a bowl of ice cream. Delight in a glass of milk. Savor the yogurt.

While you’re tantalizing your taste buds with your chosen treat, glance over these Dairy Month facts that can’t be beat.

*Love ice cream? It takes about 12 pounds of milk(about a gallon and a half) to make one gallon of the icy concoction.

*As a comparison, it takes over 21 pounds of whole milk to make ONE pound of butter.

*To produce six to 10 gallons of milk a day, a dairy cow eats about 90 pounds of feed a day, depending on her size.

*Holstein cattle, which are known for their black and white markings, are the most common dairy cattle in the U.S.

They’re joined by other breeds like the Guernsey, which is brown and white; the Jersey, which has more butterfat in its milk; the Brown Swiss; and the milking Shorthorn.

*Texas is the sixth largest dairy-producing state in the nation with over 430 Grade A dairies providing over 99 million gallons of milk. Imagine all the ice cream, cheese and other dairy products we could make with that!

Texas dairies provide more than our favorite snacks. They also make a huge impact on the Texas economy each year.

And don’t forget, milk products are part of a healthy diet.

So whether you prefer a cool glass of flavored milk, the white variety or a frozen sweet, let’s raise a glass to National Dairy Month–an annual treat!

By Jessica Domel