Built in 1991 through a bequest from Frances Osborne Kellogg, the Kellogg Dairy Center (KDC) is home to UConn’s nationally recognized dairy herd and serves as the cornerstone of dairy teaching, research, and outreach on Horsebarn Hill. Milk produced at the facility supplies the UConn Creamery, where it becomes the award-winning ice cream and cheeses sold at the UConn Dairy Bar. The center connects animal care, advanced technology, and food production in a fully integrated agricultural learning environment.

Modern Dairy Production

The Kellogg Dairy Center houses Holstein and Jersey cows in a free-stall barn designed to prioritize animal comfort and health. Cows move freely throughout the facility and voluntarily enter robotic milking systems that identify each animal using RFID technology.

The facility includes:

• Robotic milking and feeding systems
• Data collection for production, activity, and health monitoring
• Attached classrooms and laboratories
• Viewing and teaching areas
• Calf housing designed for optimal health and biosecurity

The herd ranks among the top production herds in the United States for its size and has received numerous national and regional milk quality awards. Data collected from the herd also contributes to improving dairy management practices across the industry.

Research and Innovation

The Kellogg Dairy Center supports research spanning the entire lifespan of dairy cattle. Faculty and students study:

• Nutrition and metabolism
• Genetics and reproduction
• Animal health and welfare
• Environmental management
• Dairy product quality and food science

The facility has a long history of impactful research, including groundbreaking reproductive technologies and ongoing work that advances agricultural sustainability and livestock production.

The Student Experience

The Kellogg Dairy Center provides hands-on experience for hundreds of Animal Science and pre-veterinary students each year — many of whom have never worked with large animals before arriving at UConn.

Students participate in:

• Dairy management and animal behavior courses
• Handling, measuring, and evaluating cattle
• Reproductive ultrasound and health monitoring
• Undergraduate research and internships
• Animal training and livestock shows

By working directly with modern dairy technology such as robotic milkers, students gain skills essential for careers in veterinary medicine, dairy management, research, and animal agriculture.