Relocation of Dairy Cows to a New Center in Michigan

• Approximately 80 cows have been relocated to the new educational center.
• The new center significantly expands opportunities for research and training.
• The Michigan dairy industry is a leader in the U.S. in milk production.

In Southeast Lansing, Michigan, dozens of dairy cows were relocated to the new educational and research center with dairy animals on Monday. Nearly 80 cows moved to the new building, which is part of a $75 million project. This center will allow students in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and other specialties to train on a modern farm that meets the highest global standards.

George Smith, head of the AgBioResearch department at the university, characterized this as "the relocation of cows of the 21st century". Workers established a barrier between buildings and herded animals with the help of sounds and whistles. Another 180 cows are planned to be transferred to the new premises on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The dairy industry in Michigan is a leader in milk production per cow in the U.S. and holds the top position among sectors of agricultural production in the state. The new facility is significantly larger than the existing dairy farm, built in the 1960s, and researchers may have up to two years of delays in projects due to limited space and equipment.

The old educational center currently houses 250 dairy cows and supports research for the faculties of agriculture and veterinary medicine. The new facility includes a cow barn covering 165,000 square feet, allowing for an increase in herd size to 680 cows. The animals will be arriving in pairs in the coming weeks and months.

Kim Dodd, dean of veterinary medicine, noted that the old center did not have the technical capabilities for preparing students for modern milk production. The opening of the new center coincides with other agricultural universities in the Midwest U.S. quickly launching their programs with dairy animals.

"We are investing in the future of the dairy industry in the state of Michigan, as this is critically important for the agricultural production of the state," added Smith. Initial funding in the amount of $30 million was provided by the state of Michigan, with the rest of the costs coming from producers, donors, and interested parties in the dairy industry.

Tags: USA/Research