UNDATED (WSAU)  Wisconsin dairy cows were extremely busy during the holidays, as the state’s milk production rose by a sizable five-and-a-half percent compared to a year ago. Officials said the Badger State made just over 2.3-billion pounds of milk in December while California – the nation’s leading milk producer – had a 2.3-percent drop to 3.4-billion pounds.

Wisconsin’s increase was almost three-and-a-half times the national jump of 1.6-percent. U-S dairy farms made almost 17-billion pounds of milk last month. All but just over a billion pounds were produced in the 23 major dairy states, where production rose 1.7-percent from a year ago.

Wisconsin, the nation’s number-two milk state, add 5,000 cows to a herd that now totals just over one-and-a-quarter million. Production per cow rose by 90 pounds, to 1,845. Meanwhile, California state officials have granted a temporary payment price for that state’s milk from February through May. Golden State producers have been calling for a higher pay price, after feed prices began to skyrocket last summer.