Johnny Morgan, Michael E. McCormick and Cathy Williams

Louisiana’s dairy industry has experienced a decrease in both number of farms and number of cows in recent years. In 2010, there were 145 dairy operations and approximately 16,050 dairy cows in Louisiana. Only 10 years before, there had been 434 dairy farms and 54,640 cows in Louisiana. In 1981, there were 995 dairies and 107,000 cows.

Despite the declining dairy industry, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station research in dairy science, both in dairy foods technology and dairy production, has contributed greatly to the success of the dairy industry in Louisiana.

Dairy research has been conducted by scientists in three locations during the history of the Experiment Station. A Department of Dairy Science was established in 1949 and existed until it was folded into the School of Animal Sciences in 2009. Dairy scientists made numerous contributions to both the dairy foods and production areas. They have contributed to improvements in nutrition, genetics, reproductive physiology and calf growth and development. The research in dairy production has enabled producers to improve efficiency of production, which has led to more milk per cow during the past 20 years.

In addition to the research efforts in dairy science on the Baton Rouge campus, research at the Southeast Research Station near Franklinton, which was established in 1944, has contributed to improved dairy management in the areas of nutrition, waste management and agronomy.

In addition to the research capabilities, the Southeast Research Station houses the LSU AgCenter Forage Quality Lab, where producers can submit samples for nutrient analysis of their feedstuffs. The forage quality and nutrient management research is extremely important not only for helping dairy producers improve milk production but also in minimizing nutrient runoff into the environment.

Environmental impact of agriculture production continues to be of concern. The contributions of LSU AgCenter dairy scientists have made a big difference not only in Louisiana but in other areas of the country as well.

While tremendous contributions have been made in nutrition, reproduction, genetics and calf management by LSU AgCenter dairy research scientists, another major component of dairy research has been conducted at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer, La. The Hill Farm was established in 1946, but mastitis research did not begin until 1960 under the leadership of station director Nelson Philpot.

Since its beginning, research in dairy cattle mastitis has gained recognition not only in Louisiana, but nationally and internationally as well. In 1968, the Mastitis Laboratory was established and further expanded in 1985. This laboratory not only enhanced the research capabilities of the scientists but also provided dairy producers with a means of improving herd management through identification of mastitis-causing organisms.

Mastitis research conducted during the past 42 years has been conducted by four AgCenter scientists: Nelson Philpot, J.W. Pankey, Steve Nickerson and Bill Owens. Areas of research have included causes, prevention and treatment of this costly disease. The research efforts have also identified a problem with first-calf heifers and their susceptibility to mastitis prior to their first lactation, and thus management strategies for prevention have been identified. Now producers nationwide are using these management practices to improve animal health in their herds.

Johnny Morgan, Communications Specialist, Communications, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge La.; Michael E. McCormick, Professor & Coordinator, Southeast Research Station, Franklinton, La.; and Cathy Williams, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge La.

(This article was published in the spring 2012 issue of Louisiana Agriculture magazine.)

Read more about the history of the Southeast Research Station by Michael E. McCormick.