DAIRY FACILITIES
The University of Kentucky’s Coldstream
Dairy Research Farm supports the Department of Animal & Food
Sciences’ teaching, research and extension activities in dairy science.
It is located 8 miles from the University of Kentucky Campus.
Animals
The milking herd currently consists of
about 95 Holsteins and 35 Jerseys. The rolling yearly herd average
for milk production is about 23,000 lbs. and 16,000 lbs. for Holsteins
and Jerseys, respectively. All of the cows are registered with their
respective breed associations and are classified regularly. The
current BAA for type for the Holsteins is 104. While we do not show
cattle, we select sires based on both production and type characteristics,
particularly those that contribute to herd longevity. There are
approximately 120 calves and heifers on the farm. Both cows and
heifers are bred artificially so no bulls are maintained on the
farm. All of the animals on the Coldstream Dairy Research Farm are
available for research projects.
Facilities
The Coldstream Dairy Research Farm Complex
was originally constructed in the early 1960's. There have been
many renovations and facility updates since then. The complex includes:
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a free stall
barn with 108 stalls for the milking herd |
| · |
a tie-stall barn
with 36 stalls, used primarily for cows on research trials that
require individual feeding |
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a small free
stall barn with 18 stalls and Calan individual feeders; used
primarily for nutrition research |
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a milking parlor
that holds eight cows (essentially 2 "double 2" parlors) |
| · |
heifer, dry cow
and maternity facilities |
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a management
building that includes an office, teaching facilities and laboratory
space. |
Laboratory facilities at the farm are very
limited. Most sample analyses are conducted in laboratories in the
W.P. Garrigus Building on the UK Campus. The four dairy research
faculty share three of these laboratories. These are general multipurpose
laboratories where a wide range of analytical techniques can be
performed including:
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nutrient analysis
of feedstuffs |
| · |
analysis of blood,
urine and milk samples for metabolites, minerals and hormones |
| · |
bacterial culture
and identification |
| · |
cell and tissue
culture |
| · |
histology |
| · |
molecular biological
techniques (western and northern blotting, RT-PCR) |
Personnel
The day-to-day operations of the Coldstream
Dairy Research Farm are supervised by the unit manager. The unit
manager coordinates all aspects of animal, facilities and personnel
management. Four full-time animal technicians work on the farm and
are responsible for feeding, maintaining housing facilities and
routine herd health activities. Up to eight undergraduate students
are also employed on the farm to milk the cows and assist with feeding
and other maintenance activities. The manager lives on the farm
grounds. Housing is available to full-time and student workers if
they want it. Therefore, experienced dairy farm workers can be on-site
with short notice in emergency situations.
Activities
The Coldstream Dairy Research Farm supports
the research activities of the four research faculty members in
the Dairy Section of the Animal & Food Sciences Department.
Anywhere from three to six research trials are typically underway
at any one time. The dairy farm facilities contribute to the teaching
mission of the department by giving undergraduate students a chance
to observe a functional dairy operation. Students visit the dairy
farm as part of three courses. They are given the opportunity for
extensive hands-on experience in practical dairy management techniques.
The dairy unit is also used by both the UK Dairy Club and UK Block
and Bridle Club to support some of their educational activities.
The dairy unit also contributes to the extension mission of the
Dairy Science Group. The farm has been the site of Dairy Field Day
programs and other extension demonstration activities. Many local
and visiting groups tour the facilities each year. The dairy unit
also hosts the annual Kentucky 4-H Dairy Judging Contest.
Contact
Dr.
William Silvia serves as the faculty supervisor
of the dairy unit. He would be happy to answer any further questions
that you might have about the UK Coldstream Dairy Research Farm.
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