In June, 1979 Drs. Bruce Bradley and Bob Whitchurch agreed to go into Milk testing/Nutrition consulting. Dr. Bradley opened the doors of North West Labs (NWL) at 213 South Lincoln, Jerome, Idaho in September, 1979. DHIA/independent milk testing (butterfat% & CMT) was done on several thousand cows. Betty Wyett was the first employee hired. On June, 1980, NWL moved to 901 North Lincoln and it was then incorporated. Bob Whitchurch moved to Jerome in May, 1980. The feed lab was started the summer of 1980. All hay and feed analysis was performed using chemical (wet) method. NWL purchased the first computer in town; it was a DEC with a 256 K memory. That computer was used for milk testing records and dairy nutrition consulting.
The lab was financed in the early, 1980's with an SBA loan operating @ about 20% interest for 2 years; it was very tight financially during the early years. Personal guarantees were written on all loans and at one point a local friend/dairyman Henry Reid and his wife stepped in and loaned money when the banks wouldn't. That was a turning point for NWL. In the early to mid 1980's, NWL initiated the bacteriology lab. Later the Sloat building across the street was purchased for bacteriology. They needed more room.
For the next 8-10 years the lab grew in clientele and services. In 1995, Drs. Bradley and Whitchurch split the business. Dr. Bradley took the bacteriology and water testing and Dr. Whitchurch took the feed/milk testing, keeping the name North West Labs. At that time, the NIR machine was purchased by Dr. Whitchurch and with the help of Cal-test, an equation for SW Idaho/surrounding area was developed. This equitation was continually being enhanced and is very accurate to hay grown in the North West. Dr. Whitchurch's goal was to develop the alfalfa NIR analysis to better predict dairy cow performance.
Dr. Whitchurch and his wife Sharon (partners from beginning to end) sold North West Labs to CRI in June 2005. Dr. Whitchurch consulted with CRI during the six month transition.
North West Labs has been in business for over 25 years. We offer several analyses of milk and feed samples as well as soil, manure and compost sample processing. Milk is tested for Butterfat content as well as protein and SCC (Somatic Cell Count). MUN (milk urea nitrogen) testing is now available on milk samples. Feed is tested using Near Infrared Spectrophotometer (NIR) analysis which greatly increases turnaround time for the samples. We also have a full-time on site wet chemistry laboratory. Feed samples analyzed by NIR are checked frequently with wet chemistry methods to ensure our database is accurate.
