Specialized
Teaching and Research Facilities
As a student you have access to a number of specialized facilities where animal care, research, production and innovation happen every day. From working animal units to specialized research centers, you’ll apply what you learn while investigating questions and developing skills with real-world impact.
African Leopard Tortoise Colony
The colony of 17 leopard tortoise sisters came to Cal Poly from the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The colony offers students the opportunity to learn the standards of exotic animal husbandry, while developing skills used to improve the quality of life for the animals under their care.
Cal Poly Creamery
At the Cal Poly Creamery, dairy science moves from classroom to finished product. Students work in a state-licensed manufacturing facility to process milk from Cal Poly’s own dairy herd and craft farmstead cheeses, ice cream and other products.
Animal Nutrition Center
This teaching and research facility is designed to give students first-hand experience creating the feed required for the various animal units on campus with modern industry technology.
Biotechnology Labs
Our labs support advanced teaching and student-faculty research in cell biology, reproduction, embryology and immunology using technologies and techniques found in modern biotechnology research.
Veterinary Clinic
The Veterinary Clinic provides spaces for teaching, diagnostics, surgery and animal care, along with mobile veterinary units that serve Cal Poly’s livestock and animal facilities.
Cal Poly Dairy
This student-supported dairy gives students hands-on experience across the dairy system, from animal care and herd management to milk production.
Food Safety Laboratory
Through applied research and industry collaboration, students gain the scientific knowledge and technical skills needed to protect public health and support a safe, sustainable food supply.
Animal Health Center
The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center supports the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal ag and healthcare, with multi-use spaces for teaching, research and clinical training.
Beef Cattle Center
Cal Poly’s Beef Operations bring together specialized facilities for beef cattle teaching, research and production, supporting breeding, calving, nutrition, herd management and performance evaluation.
Meat Processing Center
The J and G Lau Family Meat Processing Center gives students hands-on experience across the entire process, from harvesting to food safety, processing, packaging and finished products.
Ranches
Cal Poly’s working ranches span thousands of acres of rangeland, providing living laboratories for cattle production, grazing management, restoration research and hands-on student learning.
Equine Center
The Oppenheimer Family Equine Center features a 60,000-square-foot covered riding arena and multiple barns, supporting hands-on learning, equine enterprises, student teams and a variety of riding activities.
Poultry Center
The Cal Poly Poultry Center combines commercial-scale production facilities with specialized research spaces, supporting hands-on teaching and applied research in poultry health, nutrition and production.
Sheep and Goat Center
The Sheep and Goat Center pairs working sheep facilities with pasture and rangeland, supporting teaching and research in animal care, sustainable grazing and the connection between healthy livestock and healthy land.
Swine Center
The Swine Center is a farrow-to-finish operation that supports hands-on teaching, applied research and outreach while giving students experience in swine production, management and herd health.
Center of learning
Cal Poly Centers and Institutes bring together industry, government and academia to address pressing challenges. This is where collaborative work is at it's best — advancing research, innovation and applied solutions.
Dairy Products Technology Center
The Dairy Products Technology Center brings students, faculty and industry together to advance the science of dairy foods. Through specialized laboratories, pilot-scale processing and applied research, students explore dairy chemistry, microbiology, processing, quality and product development while helping investigate real-world challenges and innovations shaping the dairy industry.
