The Ohio State University in Columbus is building a state-of-the-art dairy facility to replace the outdated 1972 structure that was demolished earlier this year.
The university says the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) dairy will be built on the site of the previous dairy at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.
"The project will bring a modern small-scale, fully autonomous dairy to the CFAES Columbus campus," said Graham Cochran, associate dean for operations.
The dairy's agricultural technology will include a robotic milking system, feeding robot and automated feed kitchen, and manure management robots, said John Lemmermen, longtime manager of the dairy herd.
The new dairy can house 60 Jersey milking cows, all with access to the milking robot.
Initially, CFAES is planning to install one new robotic milker with the ability to add a second milking robot in the future. Space will be designated for the future installation of an onsite milk processing facility.
A feeding robot and automated feed kitchen will autonomously feed the animals. The barn is also designed with curtains, fans and a misting system controlled by thermostats to keep fresh air moving through the barn and maintaining a more constant cool temperature. Two robotic manure vacuums will move throughout the barn, keeping alleys clean and reducing water usage.
With the latest technologies being installed on Ohio dairy farms, this new dairy facility will provide more opportunities for hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in the industry, said Jason Hartschuh, a field specialist in dairy management and precision livestock for Ohio State University Extension.
Also at Waterman, construction of the new Multispecies Animal Learning Center (MALC) is underway, with a projected opening in fall 2025. The MALC will be a facility where people and animals can interact, fostering education for Ohio State students and for K-12 students.
