General Description

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has affiliated with the owners of Baldwin and Emerald Dairies in western Wisconsin to develop a unique education and research facility for training veterinary students, for providing continuing education of veterinarians and education programs for dairy professionals, and for conducting advanced clinical and applied research. The 2,500-cow Emerald Dairy and Baldwin dairies are one hour from the Twin Cities metro area. The first cows moved into the TMF in January 2002.

The Transition Management Facility houses approximately 400 cows through their dry period (the time from the end of lactation until the next calving) and through the two weeks after calving. Between 8 and 10 cows calve in the facility each day. The college will oversee standard protocols and animal management procedures in the facility. Senior veterinary students who are interested in dairy or mixed practice may elect to spend one or more two-week rotations in the TMF. They live in the facility during those two weeks so that they are available at all hours to participate in clinical care, follow up on cases, and respond to any emergencies. Students participate in the identification and treatment of sick cows, general health prevention programs (vaccinations, foot trimming, etc.) and day-to-day operations and monitoring. They will also have the opportunity to see the operation of the main milking dairies and work with the feeding, labor management, and record keeping programs. The college has also hosted senior veterinary students from other veterinary schools who want to participate in this unique learning opportunity.

By working with the private dairies in creating the TMF, the college can:

• Care for enough cows so that we can reasonably expect to be able to teach students about routine clinical medicine
• Common diseases of cows at and around calving
• Routine health maintenance activities
• Provide a site that allows applied research under University control in a commercial setting.
• Provide the critical mass of cows necessary for scientifically valid applied research
• Ensure standard operating protocols are maintained.
• Access complete records on all animals, treatments, and production throughout the cow's lifetime.
• Work in facilities that make it possible to handle, sample, and work with individual cows and small groups.

It would have been be cost-prohibitive for the University to create this environment on its own solely for teaching and research purposes. The opportunity to partner with innovative dairies that share a common vision of supporting the education of dairy industry professionals has provided the college with a powerful new approach to meet its mission in education and research at lower cost and with less long term financial liability. The college contributed only the capital needed to build those portions of the facilities that serve an academic function; the private dairy contributed the majority of the capital for the entire project. The facilities provide laboratory and classroom space and short-term living facilities for students while they are on rotation there. To date, the college has raised about one half of the capital invested; the remainder is a loan from the central university. Most of the university capital contributions have been provided by private donations. Under the agreement, the college has access to the facility for the seven years and a first opportunity to continue the relationship. The dairy assumes all operating expenses, financial risks, and other management duties involved with running a dairy enterprise. Neither the college of Veterinary Medicine nor the University of Minnesota has a financial stake in the business operations of the dairies.

The Minnesota Milk Producers Association and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association have endorsed the College's efforts to provide veterinary training at this modern dairy operation.