Cattle Produce 81% of the World’s Milk, FAO Reports

A report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations identifies cattle as the source of 81% of the world’s milk. The figure covers global milk production and places bovine milk at the centre of the worldwide dairy supply.

The report describes livestock as part of the food system that supplies proteins. Its discussion of animal production includes the contribution of cattle to the availability of milk, alongside the broader role of livestock in food supply.

Bovine milk represents the largest share of total milk production worldwide, according to the FAO material. The report presents this share as a measure of the importance of cattle within global dairy production.

The report distinguishes between total production and international trade. Although cattle produce most of the world’s milk, only 12% of milk and dairy products is marketed internationally.

The 12% figure refers to milk and dairy products traded across national borders. It therefore covers a smaller portion of the sector than the total volume of milk produced globally, as described in the report.

The FAO report’s figures concern the worldwide dairy sector rather than a single country or region. Its main points are the 81% contribution of cattle to global milk production, the role of livestock in protein supply and the 12% international-trade share for milk and dairy products.