UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre

Did you know that when given the choice, dairy cows choose to go outdoors at night and during cool days, but want to move back into the barn when it is warm and sunny? Or that calves learn more quickly when they live with an older “buddy” calf who can show them the ropes? Or that subtle changes in behaviour can be used to identify (and treat) ill cows and calves days before this could be detected using conventional methods. These are just some of the things researchers have learned through their work at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre.

Nestled in the beautiful Cascade Mountains, the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre is a world-class research facility and a working dairy farm.  Our researchers discover the best ways to keep cows comfortable and healthy.  Their findings are used by farmers, veterinarians and people in the dairy industry around the world. 

Our research helps to make cows’ lives as stress-free as possible.  Detailed behavioural measures are used to provide an insight into environmental features that are important to the cows, provide a solid scientific basis for recommendations to dairy farmers to improve cow care and cow health. One key technique is the use of time-lapse video recordings using the many security cameras you will see in the barn – this way we can keep tab on the cows (and odd visitor!) day and night. 

But milk isn’t the only thing cows produce! We’re also investigating how to make better use of the nutrients (like phosphorous) in cow manure. Phosphorus is essential to plant growth, but can also be an important pollutant when it is over applied. Our research helps prevent over application, and in the long term helps to conserve this important (and globally limiting) nutrient.

These are just some of the amazing projects going on at the Centre. Come for a visit and we can show you more!

The UBC Dairy Centre is also the international hub in the heart of Agassiz. In the past 10 years, we have had visitors, researchers and students from over 32 countries.  You may hear people speaking German, Portuguese, Korean and many other languages when you visit.  It’s an international family at the Dairy Centre!

We hope you will come for a tour of the UBC Dairy Centre - bring your best questions about cows and how milk is made.

W: landfood.ubc.ca/dairy_centre