NWROC dairy herd dispersal marks end of 115-year program
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 08/09/2010 3:28 PM
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CROOKSTON, Minn. — George Marx retired as Northwest Research and Outreach Center's dairy scientist seven years ago, but he felt compelled to return to the center last week.
Marx wanted to be on hand Friday at the center's dairy dispersal sale. The center's 120-milking cow herd, embryos and youngstock plus farm equipment was on the auction. The event marked the end of NWROC's 115-year era in dairy research.
"I am feeling a little down today," Marx said as the herd sale began. "This is the end of an era. But I had to come and see the herd off."
The program is a victim of tough economic times. The University of Minnesota is facing a budget cut of $110 million, said University of Minnesota-Crookston chancellor Chuck Casey.
"We are all dealing with how we meet these cuts," he said.
While UMC's budget is separate from NWROC's operations, it is also feeling the effects of the end of the center's dairy program. The college used the herd in its animal science and pre-veterinary program courses. The college will now look for dairies in the area for those classes, which means more travel time for students and instructors, said UMC Agriculture and Natural Resources Program department head Ron Del Vecchio.
The college has submitted a proposal to U of M administration requesting an expansion of the college's livestock program. If granted, it would allow the college to establish a small dairy herd.
"Our animal science and pre-veterinary programs have been growing rapidly," Del Vecchio said. "We have nearly 200 students in those programs."
The dairy program, plus the college's beef, sheep and equine, would offer the hands-on experience for students, he said. The dairy cows could be housed in the center's dairy barn and milking equipment not included in the dispersal sale would be available.
"UMC's administration is in favor of it," he said. "It's up to the administration on the Twin Cities campus. I am hopeful we will get an answer soon."
It could be a new chapter for dairy at the NWROC facility. The center's own dairy program started in 1895 with a mixed herd that included Milking Shorthorn and Guernsey, Marx said. The herd has been all Holsteins for the past 75 years.
Marx headed NWROC's dairy program for 40 years. The largest research project was a study of small- and large-sized Holsteins. Milk production and reproduction management were part of the project. He found smaller-sized cows to be 4 percent more efficient.
He also lead studies on dairy management and nutrition using the wide variety of "alternative" crops grown in the area. Cow rations included sugar beet tops, potato and sunflower products. Canola, wheat, barley and oats were used to make different types of silage.
The research projects fit the needs of producers in the area.
"We don't have as many acres of pasture in this region," he said. "This was more economical."
The Research and Outreach Center's work in dairy will continue. A conventional herd, similar to the dairy set-up at NWROC, is located at the St. Paul campus. West Central ROC in Morris also has a dairy herd that has been transitioning to organic.
Cow prices at the sale ranged from $1,500 to $2,600. Buyers came from across the region.