How many pounds of milk are required to produce one pound of butter?

The production of butter involves separating the fat from milk. To produce one pound of butter, approximately 22 pounds of whole milk are required. This is due to the fact that whole milk contains around 3.5% to 4% fat, and it takes a significant volume of milk to extract enough fat to make a pound of butter. The process of churning milk causes the fat globules to coalesce, forming butter, while the remaining liquid is buttermilk.

Therefore, the correct answer of 22 pounds reflects the typical conversion ratio for this dairy product, illustrating the efficiency and yield of milk in butter production. Understanding this ratio is essential in the dairy industry, as it impacts production planning and economics within butter manufacturing.