INTRODUCTIONThe United States dairy industry has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Most notably, farms continue to expand while the overall number of dairy operations continues to decline. Today's dairy farms are complex systems that require meticulous management and integration between each of its parts to succeed. This literature review will focus on the changing structure of the U.S. dairy industry and the driving forces behind these changes, and will also provide an examination of housing systems, health, and welfare animals, common management practices and the economic efficiency of modern dairy production. systems. (Addition should be made on large-scale dairy farming and its viability) INDUSTRY TRENDS Background Over the past century, the dairy industry has undergone significant structural and technical changes in how and where milk production. Until the mid-20th century, dairy farming was largely a secondary activity of the small, self-sufficient farms found throughout the countryside. Just around this time, but...