MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center

Check out this article highlighting our mission and some of our dedicated staff!

It takes a lot people to care for the cows at the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. Here from several of them about how the new dairy facility will benefit the teaching and research missions that take place here: https://ow.ly/ot2e50SVRWm

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Congratulations to the scholarship recipients!

We are still closed to visitors but in the meantime enjoy this virtual tour of the farm! 💚🐄

MSU Dairy Elementary Tour Virtual Tour of the MSU Dairy Farm - March 2022

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Today is Cow Appreciation Day! 🐄

Thank you to our furry friends who make ice cream possible!

And big shoutout to the Dairy Farmers at who keep our cows happy and thriving! 🐮

Several MSU faculty, alumni, and students received awards at the American Dairy Science Association meeting last week. Congratulations on your accomplishments! Also pictured is Dr. Mike VandeHaar, the incoming ADSA president.

Things are heating up outside which means it's time to review tactics to manage heat stress on your calf operation! 🐄🔥

-Lots of clean water
-Fresh grain to encourage feed intake
-Clean, dry bedding

Check out our Calf Corner blog on Calf-Tel.com for more tips and tricks to keep your calves healthy and cool this summer!☀️

https://calftel.com/calf-corner/keep-them-cool-managing-heat-stress-in-calves/

Newest dairy newsletter ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Catch up on all things dairy at MSU with a new issue of the Spartan Dairy Newsletter! It's available online here: https://ow.ly/XoT350Sj6me

Crews are out working on finishing up the second cutting of haylage! Shout out to the MSU University Farms staff for getting this done.

This will allow us to feed our cows high quality forages!

Congratulations to Dr. Abuelo!

Dr. Angel Abuelo, associate professor of cattle health, has been awarded the 2024 Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Production from the American Dairy Science Association.

“We who care about cattle health are lucky that Angel Abuelo decided to join our community,” says colleague Dr. Amelia Woolums.

Read: https://cvm.msu.edu/news/2024/abuelo-awarded-2024-foundation-scholar-award-in-dairy-production

Here’s a quick video to learn more about Avian Influenza.

“Dr. Kim Dodd, the director of the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), explains the precautions being taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and how pasteurization is keeping our dairy supply safe.”

Avian Influenza: Food Safety Following the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in our commercial dairy cattle, concern for the safety of our dairy and beef supply has been...

June 7th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

Come celebrate today with us and a cone of delicious chocolate ice cream! 🍫

We are so excited to share that we acquired two new Can-Am HD7 Defender UTVs from US27 Motorsports!

These UTVs will make farm chores much easier!

We appreciate their support as a partner 💚

As many of you know, the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center is currently closed to the public due to increased biosecurity measures surrounding HPAI. HPAI is also known as Avian Influenza and has been reported in several dairy herds in Michigan. We have not yet had any cases here at the farm and have implemented several prevention measures to reduce our herd's risk of getting HPAI. ⁠
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Some of the ways the farm has improved biosecurity measures is by restricting visitors, using walk through footbaths at entry points, washing and sanitizing tires, and by preventing birds in cow populated areas. ⁠
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Our main goal is to keep our cows and staff safe! 💚🐄

MSU Dairy Extension thinks every day should be cheese day! But since it's only on June 4th, we recommend eating extra cheese today!

On April 12, 2024, Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources initiated construction on their new MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. This $75 million endeavor marks a pivotal step forward, enabling researchers, students, and staff to embark on more ambitious ventures than ever before.

Read more in the latest : https://www.mimilk.com/mi-milk-messenger/michigan-state-university-breaks-ground-on-state-of-the-art-dairy-facilities/

June is National Dairy Month!

Michigan’s dairy industry provides nutritious foods produced and processed locally while making a significant economic impact on communities across the state. This month we celebrate the hundreds of Michigan farm families that work to bring the joys of dairy straight from their farms to your table.

We 💚 MSU Dairy Store!

Happy World Milk Day! 🐮

Big thank you to the ones who make ice cream possible, the dairy cows!

MSU prides itself on having some of the most awesome cows around and today is a great day to appreciate them for all they do!

It's World Milk Day! 🐄🥛 Cheers to the amazing Registered Holstein cows and the dedicated dairy farmers who care for them!🌍✨ Let’s raise a glass to celebrate the remarkable contributions they make in providing us with wholesome, nutritious, and high-quality milk.

Today is World Milk Day! 🥛

Today is also the beginning of National Dairy Month!

Our awesome assistant manager is the SCAF employee of the week!

Meet our employee of the week, Chris Pawlanta!

Chris is the assistant manager at the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center.

Chris has an extensive background in the dairy industry with years of experience. He was raised on a 50-cow dairy farm in Birch Run and later completed the AG Tech Dairy Program at Michigan State University. After graduation, he moved to Arizona and worked at the U of A Dairy Research Center. Upon moving back to Michigan, he worked 20 years at a large dairy farm in Pewamo. Chris began working here at the MSU Dairy in 2022!

His duties at the MSU Dairy include scheduling employees, ordering supplies, supervising employees, and doing cow work as needed. Chris says his favorite part of his job is learning about his employees and seeing them thrive at the farm!

When not at work, Chris enjoys watching his kids participate in school sporting events, camping with his family, and gardening!

We are so grateful to have Chris on the SCAF team 💚🐄

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Three researchers at CVM received funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture USDA-NIFA and the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture to study Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Michigan Dairy Herds. Read more about the research here: https://ow.ly/6ciq50RHe1p.

Enhanced biosecurity measures for visiting dairy farms MSU Extension Dairy Educator Cora Okkema discusses the enhanced biosecurity measures that are implemented in periods of disease outbreaks in dairy farms.

We are back this week at the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center to share with you some of the things happening at the farm right now! Stay tuned this week to learn more about the farm!

Comment below what you would like to hear about the dairy farm! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The process has begun for the new dairy!

This week we traded in our silver shovels for some scaled-up equipment. Construction work on the new MSU Dairy Teaching and Research Facility is underway!
Learn more: https://www.canr.msu.edu/dairy-facility/index

The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is currently the only lab in Michigan authorized to test for HPAI/BIAV in any species. Check out their website for sample drop off instructions and updates on the disease.

The weather forecast is predicting a great weekend to be outdoors! While we are not able to host your outing at the MSU Dairy Farm, it’s a great opportunity to check out MSU’s Baker Woodlot!

Rachana Rajendra Neotropical Migrant Bird Sanctuary Rachana Rajendra was an Okemos resident who loved birds and nature. When a tragic automobile accident took her life in 1997, her parents established an endowment to create and maintain the Rachana Rajendra Neotropical Migrant Bird Sanctuary.