In the group tested for three or more consecutive years, 178 flocks were tested, 

 representing 378,277 tests of which 0.07% were positive. The number of non- 

 reacting flocks was 170, of which 153 were 100% tested. 



From the above data it may be concluded that greatest progress in pullorum 

 disease eradication has been made in flocks tested for three or more consecutive 

 years. Of the total birds (480,227) tested, 75.6% were in the group tested for 

 three or more consecutive years. Of the total negative flocks (286) detected, 

 170 or 59 .4% were in the group tested for three or more consecutive years. The 

 number of flocks and birds in this group is steadily increasing from year to year 

 and the percentage of infection is gradually becoming smaller. Likewise, a gradual 

 increase is observed among the non-reacting flocks in this group. 



Among the 308 flock owners who received testing service, 256, or 83.1% had 

 all the birds on their premises tested. Of the total birds tested (480,227), 95.2% 

 are in flocks which passed a negative test. 



Twenty-two flocks were classified as positive, representing 22,761 birds. The 

 number of flocks and birds for this group is less than the previous year. The 

 group of flocks tested for the first time leads in the number of positive tests. 

 A comparison of the different groups shows that in the first-year group the range 

 of infection for the flocks falls in higher levels than is the case for the other groups. 

 Table 3 shows the range of infection. 



Table 3. Range of Infection in the Positive Flocks 



Range of 

 Infection 

 Percent 



0- 1 



1- 2 



2- 3 



3- 4 



4- 5 

 5-10 



10-20 



20 or more 



Flocks Tested 

 for First Time 



Flocks Tested 

 Intermittently 



Flocks Tested 

 for Two Consec- 

 utive Years 



1 

 1 

 1 



FIocks Tested for 



Three or More 



Consecutive Years 



4 

 2 



Totals 



Percentage of Total 

 Flocks Tested in 

 Each Group 



18.18 



3.70 



6.25 



Fifty-two flocks, or 16.8% of the total flocks tested, were partially tested. 

 As has been stated earlier, the true status of a flock cannot be determined unless 

 all the birds on the premises are tested. Furthermore, partially tested flocks 

 cannot qualify for the official pullorum tested grades that are recognized by the 

 Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. It is hoped that all flock owners will 

 see the wisdom of testing all birds on the premises so that they may operate their 

 plants with greater security against infection. 



(5) 



