Key Dairy Activities:

1. MSU Dairy Challenge
2. Dairy Judging
3. Dairy Club

Student Statistics:

Dairy Science major: No
Dairy Option: Yes
# Dairy Science Students: 0
# Animal Science/Dairy: 81
# Students intending to pursue a dairy career: N/A
Percent going to vet school: 20%
Percent in ag research: 15%
Percent of dairy grads entering the industry: 85%
Percent going back to home farm: 25%
Average salary: N/A

Dairy Herd Information:

# cows: Two herds, one with 300 cows
Breed(s): Holstein
Student labor: Yes
Used for research: Yes

Course Work:

Internship required for graduation: No
Assistance finding jobs or agriculture internships: Yes
Opportunities to work on dairy farms while attending school: Yes
Courses: Farm business management, labor management, animal welfare, applied dairy nutrition, reproduction, health, farm evaluation, lactation, genetics, biotechnology, nutrient management, dairy cattle evaluation, dairy cattle management and dairy farm management. Courses also focus on equine, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and companion animals.

Travel Opportunities:

Farm visits are an integral part of dairy cattle management and dairy farm management classes. In addition, students visit farms through participation in dairy judging; the MSU Midwest and National Dairy Challenge events; the MSU Study Abroad program in Dairy Husbandry and Environmental Stewardship in the Netherlands and Belgium and the MSU Dairy Club. Students also travel for internships throughout the United States, to dairy industry meetings in Michigan and out of state, to other countries for dairy-related or other Study Abroad programs, and for undergraduate research projects.

Additional Information:

Students with a dairy interest participate in cattle shows and cattle sales, organize an annual calf sale and an annual cheese sale, and participate in educational workshops for youth with an interest in the dairy industry.

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