Ohio State Builds Robotic Dairy in Columbus
Dairy operators see robotic milking, which lets cows be milked on their own schedule, applied at a 60-cow teaching herd.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
Ohio State University CFAES is building a new robotic dairy facility at its Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory in Columbus, replacing a 1972 structure that was demolished in March. The 60-cow Jersey dairy is designed around robotic milking and will be located just off Lane Avenue at the main Columbus campus entrance.
Why it matters
The outdated 1972 facility is being replaced with automated systems that let cows be milked on their own schedule, a model that reduces labor demands and shows how dairy operations are adopting robotics. For operators in the region, the project offers a visible example of the capital and equipment choices involved in modernizing livestock facilities.
The new dairy will house 60 Jersey milking cows and open with one robotic milker, on a 261-acre Waterman lab site in Columbus. It replaces a 1972 structure demolished in March, and the source does not disclose cost or budget figures.
The players
Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES)
A major land-grant agricultural research and education unit whose Waterman lab supports livestock research and teaching.
Lely North America
The North American arm of Dutch agricultural machinery maker Lely, supplying the robotic milking and barn technology for the new dairy.
The details
Robotic milking systems let cows be milked on their own schedule, on average three times per day, rather than on a fixed parlor schedule. Cows are fed grain inside the robotic milker to encourage them to visit it more often. Two robotic manure vacuums move through the barn to keep alleys clean while reducing water use. Space is also designated for a second milking robot and an onsite milk processing facility.
Timeline
March: outdated 1972 dairy structure demolished at Waterman.
Spring 2025: anticipated completion of the new dairy, with construction expected to start soon.
Fall 2025: projected opening of the Multispecies Animal Learning Center under construction at Waterman.
Market Landscape
Robotic milking, pioneered commercially by Lely's Astronaut system, has spread through dairy operations as producers seek to reduce labor and let cows milk on their own schedules. A university dairy adopting the same technology places research and teaching herds alongside commercial adopters in the broader shift toward automated dairy.
Dairy operators weighing automation should note that robotic milking is being adopted at a teaching and research scale, which can inform equipment evaluation. Operators should factor in the labor and maintenance implications of robotic systems alongside the capital cost of the milkers and barn technology.
The takeaway
Robotic milking is moving from commercial farms into university herds, giving operators a practical reference point for evaluating automation. Dairy operators considering the technology should request performance and maintenance data from equipment suppliers before committing capital.
Further reading
For more on the sector, see the Agriculture section covering farm operations and food production in Columbus.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Feedstuffs.
