Ohio State University is building a dairy on its Coumbus campus

He Ohio State University in Colon is building a state-of-the-art dairy facility to replace the outdated 1972 structure that was demolished earlier this year.

The university says that Faculty of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences The dairy (CFAES) will be built on the site of the previous dairy in the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.

“The project will bring a modern, small-scale, fully self-contained dairy to the CFAES Columbus campus,” said Graham Cochran, associate dean for operations.

The dairy’s agricultural technology will include a robotic milking system, a feeding robot and an automated feed kitchen and manure management robots, said John Lemmermen, a longtime dairy herd manager.

The new dairy can accommodate 60 Jersey dairy cows, all with access to the milking robot.

Initially, CFAES plans to install a new milking robot with the possibility of adding a second milking robot in the future. Space will be allocated for the future installation of a milk processing facility on site.

A feeding robot and automated feed kitchen will autonomously feed the animals. The barn is also designed with curtains, fans, and a thermostatically controlled misting system to keep fresh air moving through the barn and maintain a more consistent cool temperature. Two robotic manure vacuums will move throughout the barn, keeping aisles clean and reducing water usage.

With the latest technologies installed on Ohio dairy farms, this new dairy facility will provide more opportunities for hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in the industry, said Jason Hartschuh, Ohio State University Extension dairy management and precision livestock field specialist.

Also in Waterman, construction is underway on the new Multispecies Animal Learning Center (MALC), scheduled to open in fall 2025. The MALC will be a facility where people and animals can interact, furthering the education of Ohio State students and K-12 students.