The Kellogg Farm Pasture Dairy Center integrates automatic milking technology (robotic milking) and pasture-based management to support and expand research, education, and outreach capabilities of Michigan State University to address the needs of small and mid-sized dairy producers. Development of the Center was funded with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES), Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), and the Michigan State University Office of the Provost and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The Pasture Dairy Center (PDC) takes a 'field to fork' approach to rural community revitalization: beginning with the producers and production systems; completing with consumers and marketing. The PDC supports "... an innovative program coupling applied research, education and outreach focused on pasture-based animal production that simultaneously advances (1) our understanding of managed landscapes, (2) our responsibility to provide Michigan growers with options that can enhance farm sustainability and profitability, (3) identification and implementation of strategies for supply chain development, (4) the building of markets and (5) the marked expansion of the role of animals in our land grant portfolio."

The dairy herd at the Kellogg Farm was moved to the Pasture Dairy Barn in the summer of 2009. This move began the transition from a conventional dairy system to pasture-based dairy with automatic milking systems (AMS). On most dairy farms cows are milked on a strict schedule two to three times per day with a person manually cleaning each cows udder and attaching teat cups to the cow in preparation for milking; in an AMS dairy the robot does the cleaning and attachment and the cow decides when and how often she is milked each day.

The trend in the dairy industry over the last several years has been to move cows off pasture and confine them inside a barn year round.  The Kellogg Farm goes against that trend as it converts from a confinement dairy to a pasture-based dairy system.  At the Kellogg Farm cows have unlimited access to pasture during a six to seven month grazing season each year, depending on how much forage is available.  During the grazing season cattle harvest the majority of their own feed and spread their manure across the pasture.

What is a pasture-based dairy?

Sometimes referred to as a grass-based or grazing dairy.  In a pasture-based dairy the cows are outside for a portion of the year, during this time they harvest a significant portion of their feed from the pasture.  In contrast, cows in a confinement dairy are kept inside year round and all their feed is brought to them.

The length of the grazing season and the amount of feed cattle harvest during grazing varies widely depending on the climate, soil characteristics, and management.   Cows at pasture-based dairies in warmer climates (for example southern US and New Zealand) are allowed to graze year round while in cooler climates (Michigan) the grazing season may only be 4 to 6 months long.

At the Kellogg Biological Station the grazing season last about 6 months.  During this time cows get most of their forage from the pastures with supplemental grain and forage (corn silage, haylage, or hay) fed in the barn to meet the nutritional needs of the cows.

Why the interest in pasture-based dairying at KBS?

Many small and mid-sized dairies in Michigan and the upper midwest rely on pasture as an important part of their management system. Pasture is a lower cost alternative to feeding stored feeds. Cow longevity is often greater in pasture-based dairies than in confinement dairies. Lower feed costs and greater cow longevity help make pasture-based dairies a profitable option for smaller operations, even though milk production is typically reduced. Growing consumer interest in dairy products with organic and grass-fed labels may provide a higher price for milk products from pasture dairies and provide incentives for small and new producers to adopt these practices.

What is an automatic milking system?

Also know as a ‘robotic milker’; an automatic milking systems (AMS) allows cows to set their own milking schedule with the tasks associated with milking performed by the robot instead of human labor.  

Automatic Milking Systems were developed in Europe and have been in use there since 1992. This technology was introduced to the U.S. in 2000 and the first units were installed on Michigan dairy farms in 2009.

What is the benefit of robotic milking?

Potential benefits of robotic milking technology exist for the dairy farmer and the dairy cow.  In most dairy farms cows are milked 2 or 3 times per day on a regular schedule.  Because the robot milks the cow, farmers have more flexibility in how they use their time and more time to devote to farm management or other activities.

Robotic milkers collect and organize information on milk quantity and quality and cow health.  This information helps the dairy farmer make better management decisions for their herd.

The cow benefits from a low stress environment of a robotic milking dairy.  A cow has the freedom to decide how often and when she will be milked.  Cows are milked 24 hours per day with individual cows being milked on average 2 to 3 times per day, with some cows being milked 6 times per day.