Waterman Dairy Center

2433 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1097
614-292-6759
Manager: Reagan Bluel
bluel.1@osu.edu
Manager: John Lemmermen
Unit Supervisor: Joe Hogan

About the Farm

The Waterman Dairy Center is located on the main campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, as part of the Waterman Agriculture and Natural Resources Laboratory complex. The complex includes horticulture, grade A fluid milk production, crop science, turf grass, forestry, wetlands, floriculture, and apiculture. The dairy farm exists on 167 acres of the complex. Two managers coordinate all aspects of this over 100-Jersey-cow herd in the heart of Columbus. Currently we plant 122 acres of corn grown for silage production and 45 acres of pasture. In 2010, the switch was made form vertical silos to horizontal corn silage bags.

Cows are milked in a double eight Delaval herringbone parlor built in 2002. The parlor is equipped with automatic takeoffs.

This Grade A dairy herd daily participates in teaching and research endeavors. Cows are housed in a barn with 100 free stalls. Most of the manure is handled through a flush system. Replacements and dry cows are housed in loose housing or out on pasture. Calves are raised in hutches.

Farm Purpose

The Waterman Dairy Center has a 3-fold purpose: Teaching, Outreach, and Research. Undergraduate and graduate students have access to the farm and animals through opportunities in classes, research, and employment. The farm also hosts tours for a variety of audiences, including elementary schools and youth groups. Faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences use the farm and animals in their research projects. And although milk production is the not the overriding purpose of the center, it does produce grade-A fluid milk that it sells for consumption, and the profits are used to help support the facility.