Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-10-22
FARMERS ORGANIZE
FOR TESTING COWS
RANCHERS NEAR MONTESANO
COMBINE ON PROJECT TO
IMPROVE DAIRY HERDS.


With more than one-half Of the
necessary number Of cows pledged by
dairymen after little more than one
days work, the formation Of a COW
testing association among ranchers
of the Wynooche, Satsop and Chehalis
valleys is assured, says the Montesano
vidette. and by the time this article
is published dairymen with herds
numbering the required total Of 500
cows, or more II offered. will be en-
rolled in the projected association.
Continuing. the article says:
A. j. Lashbrook, field agent Of
the United States department OF agri-
culture and the State College of
Washington, acting in conjunction
with County Agriculturist c. F. Mon-
roe, commenced work Monday on the
formation of the cow testing organi-
xation and SO successful were the
efforts of these men that by Tuesday
noon dairymen owning 225 cows had
enrolled in the association and
pledge participation in the tests with
their herds.
Makes for Better Herds.
The value of this testing associa-
ton lies in furnishing the members
of the organization exact data as to
the production and earnings of each
individual COW in the members herd.
Thus cows that pay little or no profit
may be detected and disposed Of and
their places filled with cows that pay
returns on the investment. In every
locality in the United States where
these associations have been formed.
the immediate result has been the
betterment of dairy herds and an
increase in the prosperity Of the
dairymen who participated.
In explaining the operation Of the
testing association Mr.. Lashbrook
said:
"A group Of dairy farmers. usu-
ally not over 28 in number get to-
gether, elect officers and organize for
the purpose Of improving their herds
by means of weighing and testing
milk from each COW, keeping feed
and production records and working
comparatively to improve their dairy
interests.
"They employ a competent tester
recommended by an agricultural col
lege, whose duty is to visit each herd
one day month. He usually arrives
in the afternoon. weighs up the hay
and grain feed that night and morn
ing and tests for butter fat.
"All records are carefully kept on
blanks supplied for that purpose. and
the profit or loss on each COW every
month thus arrived at, so that by the
end of the year or sooner, the records
will show whether the COW is profit
able or not, whether she should be
kept as a producer and breeder or
sold to the butcher.
Cost 81 80 Per Cow Per Year.
"The cost of operating such an
association is usually about $50 a
COW per year. This money is paid to
the treasurer OF the association in
quarterly installments in advance
and is used to pay the testers sal
ary and incidental expenses.
Each owner agrees to furnish
board and lodging for the tester one
day a month and to convey him to
his next place to work. The tester
does not work Sundays but has board
and lodging over Sunday at the place
where he works Saturday.
about 500 cows are necessary to
profitably carry on the expense OF an
association, and each member pays
his share Of the cost as determined
by the number of cows set opposite
his name when he signs the agree
ment.
"A complete set of milk sheets
herd records and production BOOKS
are furnished free by the Dairy d.
vision of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, to be used by
the tester and the members OF the
association"