Pasture Dairy Research & Education Center Information Sheet (pdf)

Farm

• Located at the W. K Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), one of 15 field stations in the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station network
• Converted from conventional to pasture-based dairy system in spring 2009
• Supports outreach, education, and research in:
  • Pasture and dairy management
  • Animal health and welfare
  • Nutrient cycling and management
  • Social and food systems

Dairy Management

• At capacity the dairy will support a herd of 120 lactating Holstein cows, plus dry cows and heifers in a year-around calving system
• Cows on pasture 6 months (May-October) and confined 6 months (November-April)
  • Ration during the non-grazing period based on grass-legume hay and silage
• Cattle will recieve supplemental feed in the barn during the grazing and non-grazing season
• Two Lely Astronaut A3 robotic milking systems

Barn

• Free-stall barn designed and built for cow comfort
  • Water mattress bedding
  • Automatic manure scrapers
  • Voluntary milking
• Designed and built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards

Pastures

• 190 acres seeded spring 2008 and subdivided into paddocks for rotational grazing
• Five species pasture mix: orchardgrass , tall fescue , red clover , white clover , and alfalfa
• Equipped with K-Line irrigation system

Robotic Milking

• Voluntary Milking system provides a low stress environment for cows
• Allows more flexability in the dairy producers daily routine
• More information available on the productivity and health of individual cows for making better management decisions