Campus Farm Welcomes First Dairy Goats
From left, Ayeesha Fadlaoui '25, Greg Garin '25 and Kyra Persson '25 work to herd the two newest Campus Farm residents: dairy goats Sadie (black) and Ariana (brown). The students are part of ANSC's new goat management course debuting this semester.
Image Credit: Stephanie S. Cordle
If this dreary winter has gotten your goat, one maa-velous pick-me-up is as close as the Campus Farm.
The University of Maryland’s Department of Animal and Avian Sciences last month welcomed two Oberhasli dairy goats, starting UMD’s first goat herd. Both will give birth to little ones—called kids—just before the end of the spring semester.
“We’re excited to give our students more hands-on experience,” said Monica VanKlompenberg, senior lecturer in the University of Maryland’s Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. While a wide variety of livestock have called the Campus Farm home over the decades, including sheep, pigs, chickens, horses and cows, it’s new territory for goats.
Throughout this semester, 10 students in a new goat management course, as well as interns, will work closely with Sadie, 5 years, and Ariana, 10 months, learning how to care for them, assist with births and milk them. The introduction of the goats is part of a transition at the Campus Farm, which retired its two permanent dairy cows last year. (Dairy cattle heifers and beef cattle will still be brought in on a temporary basis for students to gain experience.)
“Having these goats better utilizes our small campus farm,” said VanKlompenberg. “This more closely resembles more of what we see in agriculture in Maryland, which is on a smaller scale.”
Read full story in Maryland Today
