Center for Dairy Research

A full service dairy product research center, The Center for Dairy Research (CDR), offers solution based research backed by experience, passion and tradition.  Established in 1986, the CDR is primarily funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars and industry support. CDR’s mission is to turn staff knowledge and expertise into the dairy industry’s success. From product innovation to technical support, and sensory analysis to custom training courses, CDR’s role is to support the dairy industry and help protect the dairy brand.

Located at Babcock Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences campus, CDR is home to more than 22 dairy short courses, a cheese pilot plant and a dairy processing pilot plant. Each year CDR works with more than 300 dairy-related Wisconsin, national and international companies on various projects and training courses that help to move the industry forward. Additionally, CDR and the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) have partnered for the past 25 years to administer the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker® Program, the only certification program of its kind in the United States.

“Every company in our industry has benefitted from Babcock Hall and the Center for Dairy Research,” said John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. “They are virtually a doctor on call for the cheese industry.”

With a gift to CDR you invest in the future of Wisconsin’s dairy and cheese industries, ensuring the state will remain a leader in innovation and customer satisfaction for years to come.