Today there are more than 120,000 cows in the state — a 50 percent increase since 1996, according to Kansas State University. Most are concentrated in western Kansas.

Kansas is well known for beef production, but the state’s dairy industry has grown significantly over the past 20 years and Kansas State University’s Mike Brouk expects that trend to continue.

The Livestock Meat Industry Council Inc. announced it is committing $250,000 over the next five years to support the building of a new dairy facility at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.