Is herd mooo-ving? No.

The highly prized herd of Jersey milk cows will not be moved from the University of Tennessee Dairy Research and Education Center on New Lake Road, Marshall County Mayor Joe Boyd Liggett announced Monday night.

In closing remarks during the monthly meeting of county commissioners, Liggett said that an announcement was planned at the Tennessee General Assembly on Tuesday by UT Agriculture Vice President Joe DiPietro who's to provide additional details during a 9:30 a.m. Feb. 2 meeting at the UT Agricultural Extension Office in the Hardison Annex office on College Street.

That was the forum in September when state and local officials were brainstorming on how to keep the herd here instead of moving the cows to Spring Hill where UT has another experiment station. The state's tight budget last year prompted UT officials to examine a proposal to cut costs by closing the dairy operation here.

State Rep. Eddie Bass and State Sen. Bill Ketron had previously been alerted by state and county leaders of the University's realization that the farm wouldn't be closed.

As for how the Jersey herd's continuation here will be funded, Ketron commented early this month that he felt it "looks good" for funding the herd in the state's next budget starting July 1.

Marshall County's state senator also said he believed he would be in Lewisburg when UT Agriculture officials are here to provide details on this latest development that would prevent closure of the dairy farm.