ERADICATION OF PULLORUM DISEASE 1930-31 9 



Discussion of Service Rendered during Season 



During the season, 479 applications for testing were received. Service was 

 rendered to 452 flock owners, for whom 405,082 tests were made. Twenty- 

 seven owners cancelled their applications before the close of the season. In- 

 creases over the previous season were observed in the number of tests, birds 

 tested, and personal conferences. The latter service is to be encouraged for 

 the benefit of flock owners because it gives the personnel in charge of the 

 testing work an opportunity to obtain more complete information about the 

 flock than is submitted by the blood collector and through correspondence. 

 Suggestions and advice relative to eliminating the disease from a flock must 

 necessarily be based upon accurate and complete flock information and the 

 possible types of management which may be instituted. 



Summary of Service Rendered 



Applications received 479 



Applications cancelled „ 27 



Flocks tested 452* 



Tests made - 405,082 



Chickens: 



Routine „ 386,928 



Experimental 16,055 



Fowl other than chickens: 



Routine 1,360 



Experimental _ 739 



Owners receiving necropsy service 66 



Necropsies of reacting birds — 226 



Personal conferences from March 1, 1930 to March 1, 1931 191 



* Includes five floclcs of poultry other tlian chickens. 



Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



In Table 2 is given the distribution of tests and positive tests by breeds in 

 each county. Birds were tested in twelve counties, six of which had an in- 

 crease in the number of tests over the previous season. Middlesex, Plymouth, 

 and Norfolk Counties had the largest number of tests. Barnstable, Hamp- 

 shire, Franklin, and Worcester Counties had the lowest percentages of posi- 

 tive reactors. Special attention is called to Barnstable County with only one 

 reactor among 6,819 tests, and to Worcester County with 0.78 per cent posi- 

 tive tests among 51,198. Only one county had an increase in the percentage 

 of positive tests, which Mas due to an increase in the number of flocks not 

 tested in the 1929-1930 season. In one county (Dukes) which revealed the 

 highest percentage of positive tests, no birds were tested last season. 



Seven breeds and others grouped as miscellaneous were tested. Rhode Is- 

 land Red, White Leghorn, Barred Plymouth Rock, and White Plymouth Rock 

 were the four predominating breeds tested. White Wyandottes and Barred 

 Plymouth Rocks have the lowest percentages of positive tests. No reactors 

 were detected among the Brahmas. 



The total number of tests among the chickens was 402,983, of which 1.47 per 

 cent were positive. 



