Maryland State Drink - Milk
In 1998, milk was designated the State drink of Maryland (Chapter 220, Acts of 1998; Code General Provisions Article, sec. 7-314).
Found primarily in Frederick, which produces one-third of the State's milk, and Washington counties, most Maryland milk cows are Holsteins and can be recognized by their large black and white spots.
Grazing cows, U.S. Naval Academy Dairy Farm, Gambrills, Maryland, June 1999. Photo by Diane P. Frese.
A single cow milked twice a day can produce up to 8 gallons of milk, and daily consume about 80 pounds of feed, and drink 30 to 40 gallons of water. In 2023, each cow produced an average of 21,150 pounds of milk and Maryland's 40,000 dairy cows produced a total of 846 million pounds of milk.
Milk Cow, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland, August 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
© Copyright Maryland State Archives