Dairy Visitor Brochure

If you plan to visit the KBS Pasture Dairy Center for a guided or self-guided tour or to participate in an education program you can download a Pasture Dairy brochure.

Guided Tours

School groups, professional organizations, civic groups, and other organizations can schedule guided dairy tours.  To schedule a guided dairy tour call (269) 671- 2360 or e-mail pasture.dairy@kbs.msu.edu.  Tours should be scheduled at least one month prior to the desired tour date.  When contacting the dairy to schedule your tour have an alternative date or dates in mind in case we cannot accommodate your desired tour date. Cost of tours is $3 (adults) or $1.50 (youth and students) per person, a minimum of $25 will be charged for weekend tours.

Tours typically last 45 to 60 minutes and take place at the Pasture Dairy / Robotic Milking Barn.  During tours visitors learn how dairy management (nutrition, feeding, housing, milking, etc.) in our modern dairy facility impacts cow health, welfare, and milk production and how research at the Kellogg Dairy will impact dairy producers in Michigan and the mid-west.  Tours can be modified to fit the interests of the group.

If your visit will include other KBS units (Bird Sanctuary, Manor House, Conference Center, etc.) visit the KBS Tour page for contact information of that unit or complete the KBS Tour Contact Form.

Self-Guided Tours

Limited areas of the farm are available for self-guided tours.  Download a Dairy Visitor Brochure at the top of this page for a guide and driving directions to the Pasture Dairy Barn. The farm is open for self-guided tours seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (5 p.m. during winter hours).  For information on self-guided tour call (269) 671-2360 or e-mail.pasture.dairy@kbs.msu.edu.  Because the dairy uses a robotic milking system there are no scheduled milking times; each cow now sets her own milking schedule with cows being milked throughout the day.  There is no charge for self guided tours.

Dairy Visitor Guidlines

To protect research, animal health, and the safety of farm staff and visitors, the dairy has established the following visitor guidlines.

1. If you have been out of the country in the past 14 days do not enter the farm.
2. Stay in designated areas.
3. No pets allowed in dairy facilities.
4. If you are coming from or going to another farm, plastic shoe covers are available for your use.  Discard shoe covers in the trash before leaving.
5. Watch for farm equipment and stay away from electric fences.
6. Sign the visitor book in the Pasture Dairy Barn observation room.
7. Wash or sanitize your hands before leaving the farm.

For more information contact:

Mat Haan,
Pasture Dairy Center Coordinator
(269) 671-2360

pasture.dairy@kbs.msu.edu.

Special Accommodations

If any special accommodations are required for persons with disabilities please let us know when scheduling your tour.