The Little River Unit contains multiple facilities used for dairy and environmental research. Some notable facilities include: Lely automatic milking systems, a double 8 herring bone rapid exit milking parlor, a working area capable of recording daily body weights and animal activity measurements, a building with conference and class rooms and 3 offices, laboratory facilities, a solid manure separation building, neo-natal calf raising area housing and feeding calves, a feed mixing building for housing and mixing feeds, above ground bunker silos, hay storage sheds, a free-stall barn capable of housing more than 250 lactating cattle, and a maintenance shop for equipment repair and storage.
Aside from Holstein production and milking, the ETREC – Little River Unit is also home to a few crop research projects including 200 acres of production cropland, and 100 acres of pasture. The unit also produces its own hay and corn silage.
Dairy research currently focuses on mastitis, heat stress, and animal behavior and well-being. Environmental research includes the Tennessee Tree Improvement Program, water quality monitoring, and wetland preservation.
Contact the Little River Unit:
East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center – Little River Unit
3229 Ellejoy Road
Walland, TN 37886
Tate Walker
Phone: 865-567-1985
Email: bwalke28@tennessee.edu
