21 



Eradication Measures Apply to Disease-Free Flocks as Well as to 

 Diseased Flocks 



In the annual report of 1928-29 there was considerable discussion of rea- 

 sons for failure to eradicate pullorum disease. As mentioned in that discus- 

 sion, the agglutination test is only one item in the eradication program. 

 Failure to carry out suggested eradication measures is in most cases the rea- 

 son why infection is not eliminated from the premises, and also explains why 

 some non-reacting flocks become re-infected. The following measures should 

 be strictly observed. 



1. Assistants should be provided who can properly and accurately band 

 and record figures for the blood collector. 



2. Field operations should not be disturbed by unnecessary conversation 

 nor be hastened at the expense of accuracy. 



3. All birds on the premsies should be tested each year. 



4. If infection is present, the entire flock should be retested within the 

 same season until a negative report is obtained. 



5. Reactors should be remioved from the farm and sold for slaughter im- 

 mediately upon receipt of the report. 



6. Offal from all birds dressed for market or home consumption, as well 

 as dead birds that are not fit for consumption, should be burned. 



7. The poultry houses, runs, and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected immediately after removal of reactors. 



8. Birds removed from the premises to egg-laying contests, exhibitions, etc., 

 should be held in quarantine and tested before they are readmitted into the 

 flock. 



9. Purchase of stock in the form of adults, chicks, and eggs should be from 

 known pullorum disease-free flocks. 



10. Eggs should not be saved for hatching until after a flock has been test- 

 ed and all the infected birds removed. (Early pullet testing will permit 

 early hatching). 



11. Fresh and infertile eggs from unknown or infected sources should not 

 be fed to chickens or exposed to an/imals, sudh as crows, sparrows, and skunks, 

 that may carry or spread the infection. 



12. Poultrymen should not custom hatch for untested or infected flocks. 



13. Owners of pullorum disease-free flocks should not have hatching done 

 where infected eggs or stock may be found. 



14. Poultrymen should not buy feed in bags that have been used or ex- 

 posed to infection. (Such bags, if properly disinfected, will be safe for fur- 

 ther use.) 



Suggestions for Poultrymen 



The progress in eradication is greatly influenced by the number of poultry- 

 men who accept the recommendations given by the laboratory. Most poultry- 

 men have given excellent cooperation during the past season and have man- 

 ifested an eagerness to eradicate puUorum disease from their flocks. 



