Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



Table 1 gives the number of tests and reactors for each breed and each 

 county. Twelve counties received testing service during the season. A total 

 of 461,762 samples was tested, which is the largest number during any one 

 season of the 17-year period. Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex Counties 

 led in the number of tested samples. 



The average percentage of positive tests for the State was 0.37, which is 

 slightly higher than the previous season. This percentage was markedly 

 increased by one flock which yielded 690 reactors. Two counties, Barnstable 

 and Dukes, had no positive tests among the samples tested. All other counties 

 except one had less than 1 percent positive tests. 



The predominating breed tested was the Rhode Island Red, which revealed 

 a smaller percentage of positive tests than all other breeds combined. 



Of the total number of samples tested, 419,377 were from females and 42,385 

 from males. Of these 0.38 and 0.34 percent, respectively, were positive. 



Pullorum Disease Yields to Annual Testing 



Less than 10 years ago annual testing was regarded as unnecessary, even in 

 cases where flocks had revealed no reactors in the test of the previous season. 

 At the present time the prevailing understanding among poultrymen in Massa- 

 chusetts is that annual testing is an essential part of their husbandry program 

 for the year, whether or not they think their flocks are free from the disease. 

 Such an attitude on the part of the flock owner has brought about great 

 progress in the establishment and maintenance of pullorum-clean flocks in 

 Massachusetts. This fact is supported by data in Table 2. This table shows 

 that 162 flocks, representing 326,435 birds and 334,366 tests, had been tested 

 for three or more consecutive years. Of the total birds tested 72.7 percent 

 were in the group which had been tested for three or more consecutive years. 

 The percentage of positive tests for this group was 0.08, which is the lowest 

 attained in the 17-year testing period. Furthermore, an increase of 63,035 

 birds over the previous season has been observed. 



Table 2. Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



(4) 



