Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-12-11
WILL TEST COWS IN
VICINITY OF PULLMAN
A.. j. Lashbrook Employed as Field
Dairy Specialist by Government
and State College

A. j, Lashbrook, formerly engaged
in dairy field work in Minnesota. ar
rived in Pullman last Friday ia ar
cept the position as field dairy spe-
cialist, having been employed Joint
ly By the United States government
and the State College Of WASHINGTON
The EN- ployment of the dairy EXPERT
is the direct outgroWth of the ac
tivities of a number of local dairy
men and farmers interested in that
branch of agriculture, who last sum-
mer held several meetings for the
purpose of organizing, tentatively.
cow-testing association The plan
advocated by the local dairymen was
to employ a dairy expert, whose
duty it would be to visit the herd
of each farmer who becomes affili-
ated with the organization at stated
periods and make a complete test
of the milk produced by each COW in
the herd. At that time nearly 100
cows were pledged to the associa-
ton within a radius of few miles
Of Pullman, and it was decided that
each member of the association
would pay his quota Of the expense
Of maintaining the association. in
Guiding the salary of the field agent,
at so much for each COW in the herd
While the work outlined for Mr.
Lashbrook by the college and the
government will include field work
In all parts of the state, the local
farmers will get the first fruits of
the new work, and the plans of the
local association will be made
material. A meeting of those inter
ested in the plan has been called for
next Saturday afternoon, in the
Chamber of Commerce building. at
1870, when the field agent will out
line plans for a permanent cow-test-
ing association. Addresses pertinent
to the occasion will also be deliv-
cred by Professor George Severance,
head of the department of agricul-
ture of the State College, and Pro
fessors A. b. Nystrom and R. e.
Hundertmark of the dairy depart
ment.
AS soon as the organization is
completed, Mr.. LashbroOk will enter
upon his duties, each farmer in the
association, upon his own initiative,
relieving the college and the govern
ment of his quota of the expenses in
cidental to the employment of the
herd of every farmer in the associa-
ton and will keep a detailed record
OF each COW in the herd. including
the amount of butter fat produced.
the cost of feed, and all other details
OF the dairy business. He will also
figure profit or loss on each COW.
which will enable the farmer to Gull
out his non-producers and add stock
that is up to the standard in pro-
duction.
This work has been carried on
most successfully in Minnesota, Wis
consin and Iowa, where the farm
ers have derived great benefit
through the workings of the sep
arate organizations. Mr. Lashbrook
mas interviewed many famers since
ne arrived in Pullman. and all have
evidenced desire to cooperate in
increasing the efficiency of Pullman
dairy herds and placing the dairy
department of each farm on a bust
ness basis.
AS soon as the work here is we'll
started Mr.. Lashbrook will be sent
10 other parts of the state, where
similar organizations will be per-
Iected, he acting as state organizer.
as an agent of the college and the
government, Mr.. Lashbrook's duties
VIII be to promote better dairying
throughout the state, and he will
promote the organization of CO.
operative breeding associations, as
well as COW testing associations.