Highlights
- Averaging out 107 cows per farm in 2025, Canadian dairy farms might be smaller than you think
- 98% of farms in Canada are family-owned and operated
A glass of pure, Canadian milk—often the perfect match to a homemade cookie (and by “cookie”, we actually mean cookies—let’s be real with ourselves here), can be enjoyed because of the diligent and impassioned work of our local Canadian dairy farmers. Farmers who are meticulous about meeting the high standards required of Canadian dairy, all so you can feel good about the products you consume.
These dairy products are produced with the milk from a farm near you—anywhere across the country. Whether or not you’ve taken the time to picture what a dairy farm looks like, there’s a chance you may be in for a bit of a surprise.
Dairy farms: small, medium or big?
Canadian farms come in all shapes and sizes! Some small farms have 40 cows. And there are a handful that reach 1000+ cows. But what is a typical farm? For Canadian dairy farms, the simple average is 105 milking cows. Eastern Canada tends to have an average number that is lower (average of 82 to 100 cows per farm in Quebec and Ontario), while Western provinces tend to have an average number closer to 190 milking cows per farm (and more land too). The reality is about nine in 10 farms in the country have 200 lactating cows or fewer. All farms—regardless of size, are subject to the same high standards and practices in terms of animal care, animal health, environmental sustainability and the purity of milk produced.
Statistics Canada reports that 98% of Canada’s farms are family-owned and operated. There’s a lot to admire about family businesses. The owners usually demonstrate they have real passion, real grit, real pride, and real skin in the game. Every day. There’s a sense of community in Canadian farming where dairy families help other families problem-solve, grow and succeed in their respective farms. It’s in their DNA, their identity. And the strong connections our farmers have with each other and to their profession, shines through in the quality of the milk they produce. Big, medium or small, these farms produce some of the highest quality milk in the world.
“What I find most rewarding about farming, it’s the family atmosphere. Showing my children how to care for our animals, how to nurture the animals, the importance of how we react with the animals in producing the best quality milk that we can.” - Michelle, dairy farmer
Dairy farms across our great country
Multiple generations of Canadian dairy farmers have been serving their local communities before “eating local” became a trend. The sector remains integral to the fabric of rural Canadian communities, across all 10 provinces. And, of course, supporting your local farmers means supporting fellow Canadians in our communities too, as the dairy sector supports about 270,000 jobs across the country.
“I found that when I came to work with my husband on the farm, it was easier to be together, with the kids, living at the farm. I love it too – being with the animals, here. It’s zen.” - Marie-Claude, dairy farmer
Fortunately, to make it easy for us to spot homegrown Canadian dairy, there’s a logo placed on many Canadian dairy products. As it is made with milk from farms near you, the same level of dairy excellence in farming can always be expected. So, when you bring out that cheese board to show your friends that you’re a real adult now, make sure you’re using only high-quality dairy products! Keep an eye out for the logo. Although we can’t promise they’ll make up for whatever skills you may be lacking in the kitchen.
In this great country of ours, we have access to the natural goodness of Canadian dairy. And across our beautiful land, our Canadian dairy farmers offer us wholesome milk that we can feel great about. So, keep local and look for the logo (because the logo means Canadian milk, produced to Canadian quality standards).
Sources
Canadian Dairy Information Centre. 2025. Number of farms, dairy cows and heifers.
Dairy Farmers of Canada. Look for the Blue Cow Logo.
dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/en/canadian-goodness/blue-cow-spotter/look-blue-cow-logo
