Station Identification:

Physical Location: 41217 Bethel Rd. Franklinton, LA 70438

Distance/Context: Approximately 80 miles east of LSU Main Campus in Baton Rouge

Contacts:

Resident Coordinator: Charles Hutchison 985-839-2322 CHutchison@agcenter.lsu.edu

Farm Manager: Donnie “Dusty” Schilling 985-839-2322 DSchilling@agcenter.lsu.edu

Station Overview:

The Southeast Research Station (SERS) serves as Louisiana’s primary center for dairy cattle research, with a mission centered on strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability, and long-term viability of the Louisiana dairy industry while contributing knowledge relevant to dairy production and management across the Southeastern United States.

Key Commodities and Production Systems Served:

While the Southeast Research Station primary focus is on research on all aspects of dairy production, the station is also a participating location for the LSU AgCenter’s cool season forages variety testing programs for ryegrass, oats, wheat and triticale. In addition, the SERS maintains a service lab for blood testing for pregnancy of ruminant animals for the researchers and the producers in Louisiana and other Southeastern states. This would include beef & dairy cattle, sheep, goats and bison.

Research Programs and Disciplines:

The Southeast Research Station has research capability in the following areas:

• Neonatal calf – nutrition, management and health
• Replacement heifers – nutrition, management and health
• Dry cow – nutrition, management and health
• Transition cow – nutrition, management and health
• Lactating cow – nutrition, management and health

Physical Resources and Infrastructure:

The infrastructure and resources at the SERS are critical for the station to meet its mission of serving the Louisiana Dairy Industry and to be able to quickly address critical industry issues as they arise.

Acreage for Field Research:

• Acreage available for crop research – 90 acres
• Acreage available for cattle/livestock research – 179 acres

Station Infrastructure:

• Main Office Building with faculty and staff office space and meeting space. Total square footage of 4,458 sq ft. The Wi-Fi-enabled auditorium will seat 100 people.
• Secondary Office Building (Old Forage Quality Lab) with faculty and staff office space. Total square footage of 4,141sq ft.
• Milking Barn with a double 8 herring bone milking parlor. Total square footage of 5,418 sq ft.
• Feed Mill – capable of mixing and storing several different grain mixes for research. Total square footage of 1,500 sq ft.
• Commodity Storage Building – with 4 bays to store different feedstuffs. Total square footage of 4,000 sq ft.
• Freestall Barn – capable of housing 190 mature head of cattle and can be divided into 6 groups. Total square footage of 26,500 sq ft.
• Hay Barn – for storing round bales and square bales of hay. Total square footage of 8,330 sq ft.
• Tractor Shed & Equipment Shed – to store research and station equipment. Total square footage of 8,490 sq. ft.
• Maintenance Shop - used to maintain station and research equipment. Total square footage of 3,116 sq ft.
• Maintenance Shop - used to maintain station and research equipment. Total square footage of 3,116 sq ft.

Analysis Capabilities and Impact:

The resources, personnel, and infrastructure at the Southeast Research Station can provide a strong capacity to address many of the issues facing the dairy industry.

Agricultural Applications:

The Southeast Research Station is in the heart of the dairy industry in Louisiana with over 90% of the farms, cows and production in the parishes of Washington, Tangipahoa and St. Helena. Therefore, the soil type, growing conditions and forage production are very similar to the majority of producers in the state. Research conducted in the areas of heat-stress abatement, forage production, nutrition and herd management have been adopted and implemented over the years.

Advancing Agricultural Science:

The Southeast Research Station will work to continue and pursue research efforts that will improve the sustainability and profitability of the Louisiana dairy industry.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

The faculty and staff at the SERS have collaborated with researchers from the School of Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.