Distribution of Tests and Reactors 



Table 1 gives the number of tests and reactors for each breed and each county 

 Eleven counties received testing service during the season. A total of 497,769 

 samples was tested, which is the largest number during any one season of the 



1 % y h e e ar a t v e er5 Pontage of positive tests for the State was 0,7, which is a 

 new low record. In Barnstable County no reactors were found among the flocks 

 tested. All counties but one had less than one-half of 1% positive tests among 

 the samples tested. Norfolk, Worcester, and Plymouth Counties led in the 

 number of tested samples. One breed, White Plymouth Rocks, revealed no re- 

 actors Of the total number of samples tested, 454,476 were from females and 

 43,293 from males. Of these 0.18 and 0.09% respectively, were positive. 



Annual Testing Essential in the Establishment and Maintenance 

 of Pullorum Clean Flocks 



Annual testing of all birds on the premises is recognized as essential in the 

 esttbZment and maintenance of pullorum clean flocks. The true pulorum 

 disease status of a flock cannot be determined unless all birds on he premises 

 a e t ted. Annual testing is recognized as a means to identify pullorum clean 

 flocks and also to determine whether or not pullorum infection has been intro- 

 duced into previouslv clean flocks. During the last ten years Massachusetts 

 Pouhrvmen have experienced the importance of annual testing in order to expedite 

 the eradication of the disease from their flocks. 



In Table 2 are given comparative results on flocks tested for the first time 

 flocks tested intermittently, flocks tested for two consecutive years, and flocks 

 tested for three or more consecutive years. 2 Q 77=;tPsts 



The number of flocks tested for the first time was 55, representing 39,775 tests 

 of which 1.14% were positive. This group revealed 45 non-reacting flocks, of 



which 29 were 100% tested. number of 



There were 27 flocks in the intermittent tested group. The total number ot 



tests for this group was 27,135, of which 0.07% were positive. Only one positive 



flock was detected in this group. presented 



The flocks tested for two consecutive years numbered 48^ and ^epre^enUd 

 52,582 tests, of which 0.24% were positive. In this group, 45 flocks (39 uere 

 100% tested) were non-reacting. 



Table 2. Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



Classification 



Tested for the first time. . 



Intermittent testing 



Two consecutive years 



Three or more consecutive years 



Totals 



55 

 27 

 48 

 178 



30,585 



26,518 



50,935 



363,189 



308 480,227 



Positive 

 Tests 



Negative 

 Flock 



39.775 

 27,135 

 52,582 



378.277 



497,769 



452 

 18 



127 

 254 



851 



1 14 

 07 

 24 

 0.07 



Positive 

 Flocks 



0.17 241 



29 

 20 

 39 

 153 



(4) 



