ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role of US university farms, their role in animal agriculture, and the financial support for them. The commercial producer or farmer who visits a university farm often comments negatively about the management practices used. The same holds for the labor force—which is usually larger than that found on "operating" farms. The management practices for animals on farms associated with universities should be superior to those found in the field. Farms should be retained as a part of the animal agriculture research, teaching, and extension complex. The model efficiency in American agriculture stems from a combination of research, development, production, marketing, and incentive. A very important function for university farms is public relations to enhance the image of agriculture. The underinvestment situation, characteristic of the past, is becoming more critical, and there is concern about a decline in the number of trained people to fill critical needs in agriculture.
