| Animal Science Facilities |
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The location of facilities and buildings for teaching and research for the Department of Animal Sciences has changed several times. The early buildings, from about 1920 to the late ‘50s, the livestock judging pavilion, dairy unit, swine unit, sheep unit, beef cattle units (breeding and feedlot), and horse barns were all located southwest of the current Agriculture Building (now called Shepardson). Most of these units and buildings were clustered in the area where Clark and Morgan Library buildings now stand. Then, in the late 1950s, the dairy unit was moved to an area southwest of west Prospect Street and east of Shields Street. This land was known as the Hahn farm at that time. Because of complaints by the residents near Drake and Shields streets due to the odor created by the dairy farm, especially after rainstorms, the dairy facilities were moved to a new location near the current Veterinary Hospital. The new facility was completed in 1981 and again became the focus of controversy because of odor problems in the residential area. Thus, in 1990, the entire Dairy Center was closed.
During the late 1950s, the beef cattle and lamb feeding facilities were moved from the campus to an area near Shields and Prospect Streets known as the Bay Farm. This area was not suitable for livestock feeding and when the current Animal Science Building was under construction in the late 1950s, beef barns, sheep facilities, beef cattle feeding facilities, and swine facilities were moved to a location that was known as the Rigden Farm. A new feed mill was also constructed that was designed to meet the feed needs for all animal units. After a few years of operation the feed mill was discontinued due to mechanical failures and costs for maintenance. One of the unique programs at the Rigden Farm was the Resident Instruction (RI) beef herd. Dr. Robert Taylor supervised this herd since joining the department in 1968. The Advertising and Merchandising Breeding Cattle class that was associated with the RI beef herd was implemented during the 1976-77 school year. Dr. Taylor worked with a group of students who were responsible for advertising and selling the bulls produced in the 1976 calf crop. This group of 17 bulls averaged $1600 with the two top bulls selling for $8300 and $3800. A bull sale has been held each year since, and the students continue their involvement in “learning by doing.” The sale bulls represent some of the best Angus and Hereford genetics that are available in the United States. While most of the bulls sell to top commercial producers, a few bulls sell to purebred breeders and AI studs. Students involved with the bull sale enjoy these practical learning experiences and the opportunity they have to interact with cattle producers on sale day. Each year, 10 to 20 students look forward to this exciting education experience. During the 1980s it became clear that the Rigden Farm (also called South Ag Campus) would not be well suited for departmental needs in its current location as the city of Fort Collins moved closer and closer to this livestock facility. Calvin Johnson maintained his farming and feedlot operation between the Rigden Farm and the city of Fort Collins but he too was being pressured to move his feedlot and sell land for development including land for the proposed new Fort Collins High School. In 1994 the Department developed a Livestock Needs Audit, and the New Fort Collins High School opened in 1995 adjacent to the Rigden Farm. The Department began planning to move to a location northeast of Fort Collins on property that resulted from sale of Colorado State University Research Foundation (CSURF) owned land. This land consisted of two adjacent farms and was known as the Stroh-Moreng land. The result was a legislative decision to build ARDEC Phase II that used Stroh-Moreng land plus additional purchased land to build new livestock facilities (see page 61). Total cost for additional land and buildings and livestock facilities was $8.2 million and came from the legislature and sale of the Rigden Farm for development. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 05 June 2006 ) |
