Dairy Learning Centre

Features

•  2 milking systems - conventional and robotic
• a Lely Vector automatic feeding system that pushes up feed and scans feed bunks every two hours to check the level of feed. If the bunks are low, a new batch of feed is mixed and delivered to the cows. This means the cows are never without fresh feed and improves their milk production
• feed centre with delivery and push up. Automated kitchen includes four 900 cubic foot Valmetal Comboxes for barley silage, alfalfa hay, grass hay and corn silage. Also a 4 bay commodity shed, 2 bunk silos, two 14 tonne outside bins and 2 indoor micro bins
• a manure management system that separate liquids and solids –solids are transported to a compost pad and liquids to a lagoon. Also includes alley scrapers.
• 3 group-housed indoor calf rooms, two house milk-fed calves using an automatic milk feeding system
• observation deck for public viewing
• heifer barn with an open front barn with 8 pens including ones specifically for smaller calves
• a natural ventilation system with fan support – automated side wall curtain and ridge chimney vents
• classrooms, showers, lockers, boot wash
• office

5 Design principles

• Facility conforms to codes for public occupancy
• Alleyways are larger than those in most private producer facilities
• Includes emergency lighting and fire detection and suppression systems
  
  

Maximize automation and minimize environmental impact

• Robotic and a conventional parallel milking parlour
• Automated feed system with robotic delivery
• Herd navigator technology
• Water and electricity consumption will be compared between the robotic and conventional milking systems
• Automatic calf feeders
• Manure scrapers programmed to run several times a day
• LED lighting with auto dimming to reflect actual daylight for the time of year
• Skylight to reduce lighting loads during daylight hours
• Manure separation system

Transition cow management

• Stress-free calving line. There will be less movement between groups of cows to minimize hierarchical stress from changing groups.
• Cows are brought into dairy barn a month before calving
• Pen gates rather than cows are moved to minimize cow movement
• Isolation pen for sick cows

Cow comfort and animal care

• With robotic systems, cows can go for milking on their own up to three times per day provided the computerized system agrees (free-flow)
• Herd navigator technology monitors herd health through automatic milk sampling
• Automated systems mean fewer instances of people and equipment disrupting the herd, resulting in lower stress milk production
• Automated moveable sidewall curtains plus powered air movement with five chimneys helps with ventilation for cow comfort
• Full length skylight above the feed alley for natural light 

Bio security

• Staff and students require card readers to enter facility.
• There is a boot wash/ laundry near the private entrance.
• Separate public entrance leads into a waiting room
• Viewing deck plus video feed to waiting room so people can see milking and herd activity without physically being in the space
• Improved cleaning and manure management

Energy efficient systems

• LED lighting with auto dimming
• full length skylight to reduce lighting loads
• ventilation efficiencies
• plate exchanges to lower the temperature of milk from the udder and transfer that heat for other purposes.

 History

The state-of-the-art Dairy Learning Centre came about through vision and partnerships. 

Vision came not only from Lakeland’s leadership, but also from members of the dairy unit of the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. Successive dairy teams pointed out the need to replace the 1980s dairy barn. Then they were involved with providing feedback during the design process.

Kristyn Child (Class of 2015) suggested the ideal facility for student learning would incorporate both conventional and robotic systems. 

And that’s what happened.

Alberta Milk was a key partner in making the centre a reality.

They’ve provided the use of additional milk quota, and funds from the Government of Alberta Growing Forward 2 grant to incorporate energy efficient systems and design in the facility. They’ll continue to provide input on courses and training opportunities​.

Funding for the $9.5 million facility includes $3,467,500 in federal funding through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund.

Official opening

Lakeland College's Dairy Learning Centre officially opened on August 22, 2017. Industry, community and students were among the visitors for the ribbon cutting. 

Photo:The ribbon cutting included (left to right): Craig Haan, Eagle Builders; Tom Kootstra, chairman of Alberta Milk Board; Darrel Howell, chair of Lakeland Board of Governors; Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education, Josie Van Lent, dean of Lakeland College School of Agricultural Sciences; Kristyn Child, Lakeland Class of 2015 alumnus; Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College; Daryl Watt, reeve of County of Vermilion River, and Bruce MacDuff, mayor of Vermilion.

Official opening video

The cows came home video