EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University (MSU) has debuted its new $75-million Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center to more than 250 guests who saw firsthand the modern technology and expanded capacity of the MSU dairy farm, according to officials.

The July 17 opening and tour of the state-of-the-art farm on MSU’s south campus served as a preview of the university’s expanded operations and commitment to the state’s dairy and agricultural industries, officials said.

“The new facility was made possible by a foundational $30 million funding investment from the State of Michigan, which was made possible through proactive support and advocacy from the entire Michigan agricultural community,” George Smith, MSU AgBioResearch director, told Farm World. “We are working to secure the necessary additional funding from the corporate sector, non-governmental organizations, philanthropically minded alumni, and individuals vested in the mission.”

Officials said continued support from alumni, donors, the corporate sector and stakeholders in the dairy industry remains essential to fully realize the farm’s long-term vision for programming and research.

“The new facility is a testament to the commitment of the State of Michigan to agriculture, and to the number one contributor to Michigan’s agricultural economy: the dairy industry,” Smith said. “Their investment in facilities at MSU will facilitate work by faculty, staff and students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and the College of Veterinary Medicine.”

He added that the previous 1960s-era facility lacked the capacity to facilitate 21st century research and to train the workforce of the future, adding that the new facility brings MSU in line with industry standards and will allow researchers to utilize the latest technology in dairy science: “Input from the industry directly guides the focus of our research efforts, ensuring that Michigan producers’ most urgent needs are addressed through applied research and outreach.”

He said, “The new facility will increase research capacity by 2.5-fold, due to an increase in herd size from around 250 to 680 animals; contain new infrastructure to facilitate advanced studies of nutrition, reproduction, animal health and utilization of data-driven decision-making on farms; and be a beacon for attracting students to careers in animal agriculture and to the dairy industry at all levels.

“CANR offers a two-year ag tech program, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and DVMs,” he added. “It will be a conduit for the first exposure to animal agriculture for a growing population of students who come from urban environments or have no previous exposure and experience in agriculture.

“The new facility also contains a visitor center that will serve as a hub for outreach: events to educate the public about the dairy industry, environmental sustainability, where milk comes from and the role dairy products play in a healthy diet,” he said.

Officials said in a July 17 media statement the two-year construction project is nearing its end, and by the end of August, the nearly 700 cows will populate the farm, adding that subsequent, on-going research “will hit full pace, and a new generation of students will enter the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center this fall, eager to learn all the facility’s bells and whistles.”

Smith said, “We purchased our additional animals from one commercial herd here in Michigan,” adding that “the dairy farm has nine full-time employees, eight part-time employees and almost 30 students working at the farm. There is a veterinarian who works at the farm one-two days a week.”

Matthew Daum, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources dean, said, “It has been amazing to see the anticipation and response from the Michigan dairy community. There is nothing like this facility, at this scale, anywhere in the world. This farm is indicative of MSU’s position as a global leader in dairy research and education, and serves as a showcase facility for MSU’s land-grant mission.”

Officials said visitors toured the 165,000-square-foot cattle barn, which will house the nearly 700 cows, with the capacity to facilitate cutting-edge research, adding that expansion and modernization will allow MSU faculty to increase research output, while providing students a learning environment comparable to commercial farms across the state.

“As a dairy farmer, I’m unbelievably excited,” said Glenn Preston, a fourth-generation farmer who owns Preston Farms in Quincy, Mich., and a representative on the MSU Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching. “Our goal is to perpetuate the opportunity for the next generation, and this generation coming into this place has got an unbelievable opportunity to have an experience that previous generations didn’t have at Michigan State.”

In addition, officials said the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center serves as a hands-on learning center for students enrolled in the Department of Animal Science, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology’s Dairy Management Program.

Mikayla Bowen, a 2023 MSU animal science-dairy concentration alumnus, who now serves as communications coordinator for the Michigan Milk Producers Association, said, “When I was a student, we had to travel to off-site farms for cow work. Now, with the facility being so accessible, students will have more frequent and meaningful hands-on interactions, something that’s critical in agricultural education. The new farm will undoubtedly attract more students and researchers.”