Plan of Operations. 



The procedures carried out this year and the testing plans followed have 

 been the same as those of previous years. However, as the adoption of one of 

 these plans is essential to the eradication of bacillary white diarrhoea from a 

 flock, and as it is especially necessary that poultrymen observe the precautions 

 listed under "Control Measures," it is deemed advisable to again include them 

 in this bulletin. 



Testing Plan No. 1. — Tests on Birds One Year of Age or Older. 



A flock of hens is to be considered free from infection when reactors do 

 not exist in the breeding flock after the following plan has been carried out :■ — 



(a) First test at the age of one year or older. 



(b) Second test on non -reactors, six to twelve months later. 



By this plan, each adult in the breeding flock will have been tested twice. 



Testing Plan No. 2. — Tests on Pullets. 



A flock of pullets is to be considered free from infection when it is the 

 product of a flock which has already been tested twice, and when on test it 

 contains no reactors. Three tests are thiTS required, as follows : — 



(a) Original test when the birds are eight to twelve months old. 



(b) Non-reactors tested again six to twelve months later. 



(c) Third test made on the offspring of the birds already tested twice. 



Testing Plan No. 3. — Alternate Plan for Tests on Pullets. 



A flock of pullets is to be considered free from infection when produced as 

 per the following plan, and when, on the last of the following tests, no reactors 

 ai-e foimd to exist. The procedure is as follows: — 



(a) Original test when birds are eight to twelve months old. 



(b) Non-reactors tested again four to six weeks later. 



(c) Offspring of the above flock tested as pullets. 



(d) Non-i'eactors tested again four to six weeks later. 



In other words, the test is applied to pullets and their oft'spring. By this 

 plan each bird is tested twice before being bred. 



NOTE. — It is mutually understood that pullets are eligible for testing two 

 months after the flock has attained a 20 per cent egg production. Male birds 

 may be used for breeders if tested once and found non-reacting. 



CONTROL MEASURES. 



A. All bi-eeding birds, male or female, to be leg-banded with bands fur- 

 nished at cost by the Department of Veterinary Science and Animal Pathology 

 of the Massachusetts Agi-icultural Experiment Station. 



B. All birds showing a positive agglutination reaction to be removed from 

 the breediiig flock. Reacting l)irds to be disposed of if possible; but if it is 

 found necessary to keep them as egg producers, they are to be kept under 

 slrict quarantine. 



C. Male birds not to be housed during the breeding season with other than 

 ))ieeding stock. 



D. New stock brought on the place, whether adults, day-old chicks, or hatch- 

 ing eggs, to come from stock shown to be free from bacillary Avhite diarrhoea, 

 as determined by the agglutination test. 



NOTE. — The Department of Veterinary Science and Animal Pathology of 

 the .Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station does not issue certificates 

 of any kind or enter any agreement to guarantee flocks. It will, however, co- 

 operate with poultry associations or groups of poultrymen who may wish to 

 issue certificates of merit or accredit their own flocks. 



