The Largest Farm in the Entire World Is Bigger Than 11 U.S. States!

Many of the largest farms in the world are either in China or Australia. Not all farms are the same, though. Some farms focus on edible plants, while others are cattle or dairy farms. Either way, farms are an important part of our lives. Interestingly, some of the largest farms in the world are cattle farms or dairy farms.

Follow along to learn more about the largest farm in the world and the states it beats in size!

What Is the Largest Farm in the World?

Did you know the biggest farm in the entire world is larger than 11 U.S. states? This massive farm dairy farm is located in Heilongjiang, China. Mudanjiang City Mega Farm is the largest farm in the world, with more than 100,000 dairy cows and covering an impressive 22.5 million acres. If that doesn’t impress you, Mudanjiang City Mega Farm produces about 800 million liters (about 200 million gallons) of dairy every year. This large farm is about the size of Portugal and larger than 11 states in the U.S. It’s also nearly double the size of the second-largest farm in the world, meaning no other farm comes close. Interestingly, this farm is also newer than other farms. It was constructed in 2015 to produce and deliver dairy to the Russian market.

Mudanjiang City Mega Farm is larger than the following 11 states:

• South Carolina
• West Virginia
• Maryland
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Rhode Island.

Where Is Mudanjiang City Mega Farm Located on a Map?

Mudanjiang City Mega Farm is located in the northeast of China, in Heilongjiang Province (it is 154 miles from Vladivostok). The area itself shares a border with neighboring Russia. The province is a key agricultural hub in the nation thanks to its fertile black soil and it is there that the largest farms which produce corn, rice, and soy can be found.

Watch Our YouTube Video on This Amazing Farm

Other Large Farms in the World

As impressive as the Mudanjiang City Mega Farm is, there are other large farms in the world. For example, the second-largest farm, also in China, is China Modern Dairy. It’s located in Anhui, China, and has more than 230,000 dairy cows.

The third-largest farm in the world is Anna Creek, located in South Australia, Australia. Anna Creek is home to about 9,500 cattle. It also covers over 6 million acres of land.

Also in South Australia is the fourth-largest farm in the world, Clifton Hills. It covers about 4.2 million acres of land and has more than 14,000 cattle.

Last but not least, the fifth-largest farm in the world is Alexandria, which is 4 million acres and in the northern territory of Australia. This cattle farm contains more than 55,000 cattle and is owned by the North Australian Pastoral Company.

What Is the Largest Farm in the United States?

The largest farm or ranch in the U.S. is King Ranch. It covers around 825,000 acres (almost 1,300 square miles) in southeastern Texas across four divisions of land called the Santa Gertrudis Division, Laureles Division, Encino Division, and Norias Division. It’s bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

The ranch was founded in 1853 when Richard King, a steamboat captain, used money from his steamboat business purchased land in the Wild Horse Desert of South Texas. It is known for leading some of the first cattle drives, developing the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, and producing championship thoroughbred horses.

It is primarily a cattle ranch, and home to 35,000 cattle and 200 quarter horses. King Ranch considers itself the birthplace of American ranching and is a National Historic Landmark. Today, the agribusiness is focused on cattle ranching, farming (with crops including cotton, sugar cane, grain, citrus, and turfgrass), luxury saddle production, and recreational hunting.

Common Farm Animals

Farms are home to many different animals. However, each farm is unique. Some farms focus on agriculture and only grow one or two cultivars, while others care for animals. Below are some of the most common farm animals and fun facts about each.

Chickens

One of the most common farm animals in the world is the chicken. They are easy and small enough to care for that you don’t need hundreds or thousands of acres. Chickens are popular throughout the world. Not only can you raise chickens for their meat, but also for their eggs. Poultry farming doesn’t just mean raising chickens but also turkeys, ducks, and geese.

Egg-laying chickens can be raised in many different ways. You may have noticed words and phrases like “free range,” “organic,” and “free-run” chickens on egg cartons. “Free-range” chickens refer to chickens that roam freely during the day in a designated area. However, they are usually kept in confined shelters at night to keep them away from hungry predators. “Free-run” chickens live similarly, but they freely run in an enclosed barn. Although they have some freedom, free-run chickens can suffer from low air quality since dust levels are higher. “Organic” chicken eggs are produced by free-range chickens fed on a strict diet. There are also restrictions on how many chickens can live in a poultry house or per hectare.

Cows

Another common farm animal is the cow. You may have noticed that there are many large dairy farms on the list. The largest farm in the world is a dairy farm, with lots of production. Cows are gentle and large creatures. There are more than 250 recognized cow species in the world. It’s not easy to take care of one cow and even harder with hundreds. Milk-producing cows need to be milked about 2-3 times a day. If not, their health can deteriorate. Dairy cows also produce about 6 to 8 gallons of milk every day. No two farms are exact, either. Some dairy farms allow cows to roam freely, while others keep them in tight, enclosed spaces.

Goats

Last but not least, goats are another common farm animal. Goats, like chickens and cows, provide milk and meat. These adorable animals need plenty of space to graze. In addition, they are herbivores and need high-quality pasture. While cow milk is more popular, goat milk is about 2% of the world’s total annual milk supply. Goat milk is easily made into goat cheese without homogenization. Common goat products include cheese, milk, ice cream, and yogurt. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alena Demidyuk/Shutterstock.com