Animal Science Facilities
Berry College is located on 26,400 acres of forests, meadows, lakes, and streams adjacent to Rome, Georgia. It is 65 miles northwest of Atlanta and 65 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Berry offers a living and learning experience in a setting of natural and unspoiled beauty.
The program in Animal Science operates several outstanding animal units, whose primary use is for education of students in various areas of animal science. These units are also incorporated in the work opportunity available at Berry College.
Gunby Equine Center
The primary purpose of the Gunby Equine Center is to support excellence in equine-related instruction and research, in student-work experience, and in service to the community. A variety of equine-related courses is available through the animal science program. The Berry College Intercollegiate Equestrian Team competes in both hunt-seat and stock-seat divisions against other colleges and universities within a five-state region.
The Gunby Equine Center exists as a 185-acre operation. Facilities include five buildings, the newest being a covered arena and classroom/office complex. In our barns are 50 stalls as well as tack rooms and wash racks. There is a lighted outdoor arena, a 125' round pen, and access to many miles of trails throughout the surrounding mountains.
Berry College owns approximately 60 horses. The availability of horses, obtained by donations, allows students to gain firsthand experience in dealing with a variety of animals and situations. The majority of the horses are used for instructional purposes in hunt-seat and stock-seat equitation. The Gunby Equine Center also maintains a small band of brood mares and one stallion.
Students are also encouraged to bring their horses to campus. The Gunby Equine Center provides full board, access to all facilities, an experienced full-time barn manager, student employees, and access to the trails throughout the campus.
Rollins Ruminant Research Center - Dairy
The primary purposes of the Dairy are to support excellence in educational instruction, student-work experience, and statewide recognition of the Jersey dairy cow.
The Dairy runs 60 Jerseys, with 30 cows in milk. A wide variety of classes are taught at the dairy, where students learn dairy production, artificial insemination, feed formulation, and computer generated management through the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA). Students gain valuable hands-on experience such as milking, observation of health, treatment procedures, assisting with calving, rearing replacement heifers, and feeding the lactating herd a total mixed ration.
The Dairy was ranked "Top Jersey Herd" in the state of Georgia in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, and 1998. In 2000 it was ranked number two. In 2004 Berry's Jerseys surpassed the prestigious 1000 pounds of milk fat. Making it the number one herd for milk production among Georgia's Jersey Herds and number one for butter-fat. In 2005, it was selected first for milk and second for butter-fat among Jerseys. The dairy has achieved the prestigious "Grade A Dairy" of the month on five separate occasions. In 1992 and 1993 it was ranked seventh for its size in the nation. In addition to raising its own replacements, several animals and embryos are marketed each year through the National Jersey Cattle Club. Berry's bloodlines are respected and greatly sought after.
Berry Jersey Association Honors and Awards
Rollins Ruminant Research Center - Beef
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The purpose of maintaining any animals at Berry College is to support and foster education and research opportunities. The beef cattle unit is no exception to this purpose. In addition to primarily providing support to a wide variety of academic courses offered through the Department of Animal Science, The Rollins Center Beef Cattle Unit provides additional learning opportunities through the student-work experience of Berry College. Students are also encouraged to participate in research projects with a number of these projects conducted at the Rollins Center.
The Rollins Center Beef Cattle Unit consists of a multifaceted operation. As implied by the name, the department maintains two herds of beef cattle. The unit is also responsible for over 80-acres of fields for hay production. A flock of sheep are also maintained for teaching and research purposes. A more recent addition to the operation is the Ray Larsen Quail Research Center. This facility was developed to provide additional research and teaching opportunities for students interested in working with avian species; in this case the Bob White Quail.
The Rollins Ruminant Research Center is named in honor of the late O. Wayne Rollins, a prominent Atlanta businessman and successful beef cattle producer. The Rollins family legacy continues to this day.
Westcott Greenhouses and Gardens
The horticulture greenhouses and gardens support instruction received in the classroom. In addition, the greenhouses and gardens provide excellent opportunities in student work and community service.
The greenhouses include a 42' x 96' Dutch Venlo Greenhouse with a 21' x 36' attached headhouse, a 28' x 48' Quonset greenhouse, and a 28' x 36' Quonset shade house. The greenhouses, as well as additional outdoor growing areas, facilitate the Berry Horticultural Services. Students and community volunteers make up the team of workers, and are involved in every aspect of quality plant production for campus and community use.
The gardens cover approximately six acres surrounding the Westcott building and the greenhouses. Student workers are involved in all areas of public gardening from design through installation and maintenance. The gardens are also used in the testing of plant material for campus use.
Horticulture Services are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the gardens are open the same hours as the campus (daylight to twilight). Visitors are welcomed.