SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT ON PULLORUM DISEASE 

 ERADICATION IN MASSACHUSETTS 



1935-1936 



By the Poultry Disease Control Laboratoryi 



[ntroduction 



For the past sixteen years puUorum-disease testing has been carried on in 

 Massachusetts for the purpose of eliminating the disease from breeding flocks. 

 To this end marked progress has been made, since few infected flocks are now 

 detected among the total number tested. 



Poultrymen have come to realize the benefits from a pullorum-clean flock 

 and to appreciate the importance of annual testing of all birds on the premises. 

 More poultrymen are becoming eradication-minded, thus stimulating progress 

 in the establishment of additional pullorum-clean flocks. The buying public, 

 whose interest may be in hatching eggs, day-old chicks, or older stock, have 

 also come to realize that purchases should be confined to officially recognized 

 pullorum-clean sources. Through the adoption and execution of a sound 

 eradication program and a cautious policy of buying new stock only from 

 sources officially recognized as pullorum clean, Massachusetts poultrymen can 

 be assured of ultimate success in stamping out the disease. 



During the past testing season further progress has been made. The credit 

 for this success is due in large measure to the various agencies which have 

 directly or indirectly aided in fostering the eradication program. 



Summary of Service Rendered 



Applications received 269 



Applications cancelled 14 



Flocks tested 255* 



Number of tests 344,233 



Chickens: — 



Routine 334,987 



Experimental 9,094 



Fowl other than chickens: — 



Routine 139 



Experimental 13 



Owners receiving necropsy service 39 



Necropsies of reacting birds 72 



*Includes three flocks of poultry other than chickens. 



Distribution of Tests and Reactors 

 Table 1 gives the number of tests and reactors by counties and breeds. 

 A total of 344 081 samples was received from the 11 counties. The average 

 percentage of positive tests was 0.30, which is the lowest attained during 16 



'Poultry Disease Control Laboratory Staff: H. Van Roekel, Chief of Laboratory; K. L. BuUis, 

 Assistant Veterinary Pathologist; O. S. Flint, Assistant Research Professor; Miriam K. Clarke 

 and Felicia Zimnoski, Laboratory Assistants. Appreciation is extended to Dr. J. B. Lentz for 

 assistance given to the testing work. 



