From robotic milkers and automated feeders to environmental controls and biosecurity protocols, the MALC brings classroom lessons to life and equips students with skills they will need to be part of Ohio’s $7 billion dairy and livestock industries.

Built for real-world impact, the Multispecies Animal Learning Complex (MALC) combines teaching, research and outreach in a 150,000-square-foot-plus space to train tomorrow’s animal scientists, veterinarians and agricultural innovators. 

“The opening of the MALC and dairy is an exciting milestone for our college and for Ohio agriculture,” said Dean Kress. “This facility gives our students unparalleled, hands-on learning opportunities while strengthening our ability to engage the public and prepare the next generation of leaders who will sustain life and serve our communities.” 

From robotic milkers and automated feeders to environmental controls and biosecurity protocols, the MALC brings classroom lessons to life and equips students with skills they will need to be part of Ohio’s $7 billion dairy and livestock industries 

“This is where curiosity meets career training,” said Pasha Lyvers, chair of the CFAES Department of Animal Sciences. “We’re preparing graduates who understand agriculture as a science, a business and a public service, and who are job-ready on day one.” 

Students move between lecture halls, wet labs and live animal units housing swine, poultry, equine and ruminants. The dairy features two Lely Astronaut robotic milkers that allow cows to set their own milking schedule as well as robots that automate feed delivery and manure removal. 

“Instead of spending their time milking cows, students can focus on herd management, animal health and decision-making based on real-time data,” said John Lemmermen ’94 BS, assistant director of the MALC’s animal complex. 

For CFAES animal sciences senior Elizabeth Lott, president of the Poultry Science Club at Ohio State, the MALC is more than a facility. It’s a launchpad for leadership and collaboration.

"The MALC opens up crossspecies exposure, which helps us understand how the industry works as a whole,” Lott said. “It’s huge for career development, and it helps our clubs bring more hands-on learning opportunities right to campus.” 

“That broader perspective is essential,” said Maurice Eastridge, professor and senior associate chair in the CFAES Department of Animal Sciences. 

“Many of our students come from nonagricultural backgrounds,” he said. “This facility not only prepares them for technical careers, but also opens their eyes to opportunities they didn’t even know existed in the animal industry.” 

Ohio State University Extension, the college’s outreach arm, and Ohio 4-H will play a central role in connecting students and youth to the MALC, introducing learners to animal agriculture, science and career pathways. The experience strengthens leadership skills and increases public understanding of agriculture’s role in food security, health and sustainability. 

“These investments reflect our commitment to delivering on the full promise of our land-grant mission, Kress said. “They enable hands-on education and career pathways that reach across Ohio and well beyond.” 

Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the facility advances industry and public interests. 

“Together, the ODA and Ohio State work to support the agricultural industry through innovation, research and collaboration, ensuring Ohioans have access to safe, healthy and quality food today and in the future,” Baldridge said. For CFAES and its students, the MALC is more than a building. It’s a space where education, innovation and service come together to shape the future of agriculture. 

“Our graduates will enter the workforce with training shaped by advanced technologies and an understanding of agriculture’s evolving role in society,” Lyvers said. “That’s the future we’re building, one student, one partnership and one step at a time.”