Iowa State University dedicated the new Dairy Animal Science Education and Discovery Facility on Oct. 20, 2007. Sited three miles south of the main ISU campus, the facility is a fully functional dairy farm of 450 milking cows used for teaching, research, and education. Accommodating research by faculty in Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, the facility is also utilized by researchers from the National Animal Disease Center in Ames.
The project budget, not including land purchase, was $14.77 million. The facility includes laboratories, classrooms, and a liquid/solid waste separation system with centralized composting. The HVAC system incorporates natural ventilation with mechanical additions such as a grid orientation of fans with multiple positioning options for increased cow comfort. Surfaces in the facility, such as floor mats and stalls, will be evaluated for effects on milk production and disease prevention.
