Asia produces the most cow’s milk each year. Europe a second, accounting for around 30% of annual world milk production. The EU-27 countries account for around fifth of world cow’s milk production. However, in contrast to their considerable share of world production, EU countries account for only 7% of the world’s dairy cows. This is due to the high average milk yield in most EU countries. However, in contrast to the global trend, in the EU, dairy cow numbers have been declining in recent years and milk production growth has been driven by an increase in the average milk yield of dairy cows. There are differences between EU Member States in breeding intensity, milk production, self-sufficiency and, of course, economic performance. The Czech Republic stands out among the Member States for its above-average milk yield, which is among the highest not only in the EU but also worldwide. Milk production per hectare of agricultural land is comparable to the EU average, with the Netherlands producing significantly more. The Netherlands also has the highest cattle density, which in the EU and the Czech Republic is 46 and 39 head per 100 hectares of agricultural land. The EU and the Czech Republic are self-sufficient in milk production. The FADN survey shows lower costs per hectare for dairy farms in the Czech Republic compared to the EU average.