The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is set to open a new high-tech agriculture and animal science facility later this month.
The Multispecies Animal Learning Complex (MALC), a more than 100,000-square-foot facility, is scheduled for a grand opening in late January at the university’s Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.
The MALC will house swine, equine, poultry, goats, and sheep and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students, along with guided viewing for visitors.
“Animal agriculture is important in Ohio and our country, and it’s a major part of what we teach,” Graham Cochran, CFAES associate dean for operations, said in a statement. He said the complex will consolidate animal teaching programs in one location and enhance instruction through hands-on experiences.
The MALC will integrate modern animal housing with classrooms, teaching laboratories, an arena, and public viewing corridors, all located near Ohio State’s Columbus campus and Innovation District.
“Animal agriculture is important in Ohio and our country, and it’s a major part of what we teach,” said Graham Cochran, associate dean for operations in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. He said the complex will consolidate animal teaching programs in one location and enhance instruction through hands-on experiences.
The facility is designed to reflect current industry standards, including an autonomous dairy that will use robotic milking, automated feeding, and robotic manure-handling systems. Biosecurity was also a key focus in the design, with viewing corridors allowing visitors to observe animals while limiting health risks.
Public engagement will be a central component of the complex, with scheduled tours planned for K-12 students and community groups. Programs are also being developed for youth organizations and adult workforce development training.
“I’m not aware of another complex quite like this that brings together this many species in one integrated location, especially not inside one of the nation’s largest cities,” Cochran said.
