New U of M partnership benefits both veterinary students and dairy

St. Peter, Minn. - 11/2/07 - University of Minnesota (UM) veterinary students now have a new way to gain hands-on experience during their education -- the Davisco Foods dairy processing facility.

Owned by Mitch Davis, the Northern Plains Dairy near St. Peter is made up of 2,900 Jerseys and Jersey-Holstein crossbreds that will now become the UM Veterinary School herd. The endeavor hopes to be of benefit to both the school and the dairy.

"I see this farm doing three things. It is going to be an educational tool to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medicine students, will make research products and practices available to the students and the farm, and it will provide a means of continuing education for other dairy farmers through short courses and tours," Davis says.

"It's great for the next generation to be able to have this type of hands-on experience. Something like that is invaluable."