5. Among the 460 tested flocks the majority had been tested for two or more 

 consecutive years. Twenty-five flock owners employed intermittent testing, 

 and 122 tested for the first time. Approximately 80 per cent of all the birds 

 tested were in the flocks tested annually, and the percentage of positive tests 

 in this group was noticeably smaller than in the groups tested for the first 

 time, or intermittently. The group with intermittent testing history had ap- 

 proximately the same percentage of positive tests as the group tested for 

 the first time, 5.50 and 5.63 respectively, indicating that little benefit is de- 

 rived from intermittent testing. The percentage of positive tests in the group 

 tested for two consecutive years was 2.46, and 1.18 in the groiip tested for 

 three or more consecutive years. These percentages indicate that annual test- 

 ing is far more effective in eradicating pullorum disease. 



The total number of non-reacting flocks was greater than the number of 

 positive flocks. The groups testing annually had a greater number of non- 

 reacting flocks in proportion to the number of positive flocks than the first 

 two groups. 



The infection in the positive flocks listed under the annually tested groups 

 can be accounted for by the employment of faulty eradication measures. 



Number of Birds in Tested Flocks and Tested Non-Reacting Flocks 

 in Relation to Poultry Population in Each County* 



Figure 1 represents the poultry population and the number of birds in 

 tested flocks and tested non-reacting flocks in each county. A study of this 

 figure reveals that the number of tested birds is approximately one-seventh 

 of the poultry population. Middlesex, Worcester, and Bristol Counties rank 

 first in poultry population, whereas Middlesex, Plymouth, and Norfolk lead 

 in the number of birds tested. Bristol, Norfolk, and Middlesex Counties 

 rank first in number of birds in tested non-reacting flocks. Berkshire and 

 Hampden Counties have the smallest number of tested birds. The number of 

 imtested birds is exceedingly large compared with the number tested. This 

 shows^ that untested flocks exist among tested non-reacting flocks and com- 

 plete eradication is more difficult as long as that condition prevails. Owners 

 of non-reacting flocks can cooperate in developing disease-free areas by in- 

 teresting owners of infected flocks to eradicate the disease from their premises. 

 Poultry associations can strive to attain a record of members who own 100 

 per cent 'tested non-reacting flocks. Through the continued efforts and assist- 

 ance of the extension services and poultry associations, eradication of pull- 

 orum disease may be further expedited. 



The geographical distribution of infected and non-reacting flocks is pre- 

 sented in Figures 2 and 3. The distribution in each group is rather general, 

 emphasizing the fact that known infected flocks are scattered among the non- 

 reacting flocks. 



* The poultry population is based on the assessoi's figrure of November, 1928, 

 plus the allowance for fowls legally exempt and allowance for mortality and culling, 

 which total 50 per cent of the assessor's figure. 



