11 



cent being tested in 192()-27, and 9.39 per cent in 1927-28. It has been esti- 

 mated that approximately 25 per cent of all tiie birds in the State will be 

 needed to supply the demand for enough tested breeding stock for annual 

 replacements, so the number of birds tested will have to be more than doubled 

 to meet this possible demand. 



In 1927-28, 3.98 per cent of the poultry population of Massachusetts was 

 in non-reacting flocks. This is twice tiie percentage of 1926-27, slightly 

 more than twice that of 192.'5-26, three times that of 1924-25, and over six 

 times that of 1923-21.. It will be noted that though there were less non-react- 

 ing flocks in 1926-27, tliere were 0.32 per cent more birds in such flocks in 

 1926-27 than in 1925-26. Twenty-four (21.06 per cent) nu)re non-reacting 

 flocks were detected in 1927-28 than in 1926-27. In 1927-28 there were 1.0,560 

 (100.72 per cent) more birds in non-reacting flocks tiian in 1926-27. Thus it 

 is evident tiiat eitlier larger flocks or a larger percentage of the total birds 

 in flocks are being tested. Data collected during the 1927-28 season indicate 

 tiiat part of the increase is due to poultrymen testing a larger percentage of 

 the total birds in the flock. 



Classification of Fowl Tested 



Table VI gives a summary of the niunber of various fowl tested, the num- 

 ber of males and females, and the relative percentage of infection in each. 



Thc'fowl other than ciiickens were tested for the purpose of determining 

 to what extent infection exists in birds other than chickens. This phase is 

 described elsewhere in this report. Unfortunately, we could not autojDsy the 

 one auinea-fowl which reacted to the test. 



Table VI. Classification of Fowl Tested in 1927-28. 



