DAIRY SCIENTISTS aren’t the only ones excited about CALS’ new Integrated Dairy Facility, which opened this summer at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station. Apparently, so are the cows. Soon after the herd moved into the 500-cow facility, modeled after the high-tech dairy centers now common in the industry, average milk yields jumped five pounds per day. Herd manager Mike Peters BS’95 says more milk is a sign that the cows are comfortable in the new barn, which offers much-improved climate control and bedding from Arlington’s old facilities. And happy cows make for happy researchers. “We want to get good research outcomes,” says Peters. “You have to have comfortable cows to get good research outcomes.”

This article was posted in Agriculture, Fall 2008, Food Systems, On Henry Mall and tagged Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Dairy, Integrated Dairy Facility, Mike Peters.