Dairy

For the descriptor of convenience stores in New Zealand, see Dairy (store). For other uses, see Dairy (disambiguation).
Old mountain pasture dairy in Schröcken, Vorarlberg, Austria, in the Bregenz Forest

A dairy is a place where milk is stored and where butter, cheese and other dairy products are made, or a place where those products are sold.[1]: 325 [2]: 284  It may be a room, a building or a larger establishment.[2]: 284  In the United States, the word may also describe a dairy farm or the part of a mixed farm dedicated to milk for human consumption,[2]: 284  whether from cows, buffaloes, goats, yaks, sheep, horses or camels.

The attributive dairy describes milk-based products, derivatives and processes, and the animals and workers involved in their production, for example dairyman, dairymaid, dairy cattle or dairy goat. A dairy farm produces milk and a dairy factory processes it into a variety of dairy products. These establishments constitute the global dairy industry, part of the food industry.

The word dairy comes from an Old English word for female servant as historically milking was done by dairymaids.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference chambers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference webster was invoked but never defined (see the help page).