udder

anatomy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The udder is a large, pendulous organ that contains two or more mammary glands, each with a single nipple. It is essentially the mammary gland of a female mammal, primarily known in the context of dairy animals like cows. In cows, the udder is responsible for producing milk, which is a key component of dairying, a branch of agriculture focused on the breeding, raising, and utilization of dairy animals for milk production. The udder is supplied with blood, and the components of milk are created from raw materials collected from the blood that passes through it.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

dairying
Milking and bulk handling on the farm
…and are carried to the udder. There the raw materials are collected and changed into milk components. Each time the blood passes through the udder a small fraction of the components is removed to make the milk. Some 400 pounds (50 gallons, or about 200 litres) of blood must pass…
Read More
…and are carried to the udder. There the raw materials are collected and changed into milk components. Each time the blood passes through the udder a small fraction of the components is removed to make the milk. Some 400 pounds (50 gallons, or about 200 litres) of blood must pass…
Read More