Dairy Unit

Learning and engagement

Built in 2006, the Dairy unit is currently set up to demonstrate the pasture-based system of dairy farming. This system is a popular solution for small-scale dairy farmers in North Carolina who are seeking to lower their overhead by providing the bulk of their livestock’s nutritional needs from pasture.

Research has demonstrated that milk from pastured animals provides better nutrition than milk from primarily grain-fed animals, leading to a new and growing niche market for pasture-based dairy products.

For more about education in bovine and dairy sciences, check the curriculums in the Department of Animal Sciences. 

Research

Animal sciences researchers use the dairy unit to research the bovine immune system and the genetics of mastitis, the dairy industry’s most costly disease.

Contacts

Coordinator: Corey Burgess – caburges@ncat.edu, 336-256-2415