The purpose of the facility is to provide opportunities for students to experience and study various aspects of large animal agriculture. Instructional areas include:
Swine Grow-out – This room is designed to house animals for use in studies related to animal nutrition, genetics and reproduction. Students will be able to develop experiments for testing feed rations, observe animal behavior and practice routine herd management skills. Students may utilize the facility to raise their own animals as part of a supervised agricultural experience program.
Swine Farrowing / Nursery – This room houses breeding swine used in studies of artificial insemination, the reproductive process, and baby pigs until they are able to be transferred to the swine grow out room.
Aquaculture – This room contains an aquaculture unit used by students to produce fish and study water quality. Studies in nutrition and feed efficiency may also be conducted. The closed loop system for producing fish also provides opportunities for students to study hydroponics and develop their own systems for utilizing nutrients in waste water as food for plants.
Large Animal Demonstration / Large Animal Handling Area – This areas provides opportunities for students to observe animal behavior and select superior animals based on physical characteristics. This room consists of a 30” x 30” arena for exhibiting animals and a 6” x 30” raised platform which allows students to see classes of animals in the arena. The demonstration area connects to a large animal handling facility equipped with a crowding pen, gate, alley, head gate, and squeeze chute. These facilities allow for safe confinement of large animals to be used in lessons on vaccinations and other large animal health care practices. This area will provide the opportunity to demonstrate artificial insemination and embryo transfer of large animals.
Multi-Purpose Room – This room is used for a variety of purposes including: follow-up discussion of lab activities, pre-laboratory instruction, FFA activities, Cattlemen’s meetings, and 4-H activities. The room is equipped with tables, chairs, computer hook up, and other equipment deemed necessary.
Poultry Room – This room contains incubators for hatching eggs and cages for growing out chickens, quail, or other fowl. Students study the stages of development during the incubation process, nutrition of birds, feed efficiency, behavior, and other aspects of poultry science.