Alabama College Farm and Cows

Alabama College Farm and Cows

1910-1960

Unknown

These are photographs of the Alabama College Dairy's cattle which consisted of both award-winning Holstein and Jersey cows. By the end of the dairy's operation in 1960, the cattle consisted of over a hundred cows. All cows occupying the campus farm were registered and certified for health and safety reasons; this ensured the production of the highest quality milk. Milk yielded by the dairy was specifically produced for the campus' use, however, any surplus milk did not go to waste. All excess inventory was sold to citizens of Montevallo and surrounding areas which provided additional profit for the school's general fund; while this was not the original purpose of the dairy it was an added benefit. In 1908, upon evaluating the school's great expense on supplying milk to the school from outside sources President Palmer and other school officials began to look into the details of establishing their own dairy. It was decided that the most cost-effective way to supply milk was maintaining their own dairy. The true purpose of establishing a dairy underneath the management of the school was multifaceted in that it provided the school with a product in great demand, additional income, and a new environment to create additional course work for their student populace.

University of Montevallo

The College Dairy

Anna Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections

Gracie Sproull

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Photographs