The Waterman Dairy Center near The Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio, will soon transition to a herd that is 100 percent Jersey. The discussion to have an all-Jersey herd began in June 2009 and was driven by feed costs.
“It was primarily driven by the feed supply needed, the economic situation with the price of milk, and then trying to provide some overall efficiency by having a single breed,” said Maurice Eastridge, adviser to the Buckeye Dairy Club.
The farm's 157 Holsteins are being sold to the state prison system. Managers of the Waterman Dairy Center plan to milk 100 Jerseys, while focusing on goals of research and teaching.
