Form of animal husbandry that uses mammals, primarily milk and products processed from it (including butter, cheese, and ice cream).
Though cattle , goats , and {{link=sheep">sheep have been kept for the production of dairy products since the earliest historical times, modern dairy farming resulted from the technological advances of the past hundred years: the factory system for processing; sterile storage; refrigeration, fast vehicles and paved roads; and pasteurization and the enforcement of food-safety laws. Outstanding dairy breeds include the Holstein , Guernsey , Jersey , Ayrshire , and Brown Swiss.