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

 should be held in quarantine and determined free of disease before they are 

 readmitted into the flock. 



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

 known pullorum-disease-free flocks. Consult your county agent regarding addi- 

 tions or replacements in your flock. 



8. 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. 



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

 fed to chickens or exposed to animals such as crows, sparrows, and skunks that 

 may carry or spread the infection. 



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

 (including fowl other than chickens). 



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

 where infected eggs or stock may be found. 



12. Poultrymen should regard fowl other than chickens as a possible source 

 of pullorum infection unless tested and found free from pullorum disease. 



13. Poultrymen should not buy feed in bags that have been used or exposed 

 to infection. (Such bags will be safe for further use if properly disinfected.) 



14. Equipment that has been exposed to or contaminated with infective 

 material should not be used again until it has been properly cleaned and sterilized 

 or disinfected. 



Non-Reacting and Positive Flocks Classified by Counties 



Table 5 gives the number of non-reacting and positive flocks classified by 

 counties. A total of 289 non-reacting flocks (100 percent tested), representing 

 440,689 birds, was identified in 12 counties. Also 38 partially tested non-reacting 

 flocks, representing 28,445 birds, were identified. The number of birds in 100 

 percent tested negative flocks exceeds the previous year's total by 7,770. This 

 gain may appear small. However, when one considers the shift this year of one 

 large flock from the non-reacting group to the positive group, the gain in non- 

 reacting birds among the other flocks is really significant and encouraging. The 

 number of non-reacting, 100 percent tested flocks showed an increase of 48 over 

 the previous season. 



With these increases in pullorum-free flocks and birds from year to year, the 

 Massachusetts poultry industry is attaining a stronger position as the eradication 

 work progresses. As has been emphasized in previous reports, the entire poultry 

 population of the State could be replaced from pullorum-free flocks. In the 

 majority of instances, replacement of infected flocks by the introduction of 

 pullorum-clean stock is a more economical and certain method of eradicating 

 the disease than retesting. Of course, it must be understood that whatever method 

 of eradication is employed, the flock owner must follow measures which are 

 effective in the elimination and prevention of the disease. 



The number of infected flocks listed for this season is 28, an increase of 6 over 

 the previous season. No infected flocks were detected in two counties (Hampshire 

 and Suffolk), and only one infected flock each in Barnstable, Franklin, Hampden, 

 and Worcester counties. 



Owners of infected flocks are encouraged to discuss their pullorum disease 

 problems with the testing agency so that plans for possible eradication of the 

 disease may be adopted. Eradication of pullorum disease from a flock, regard- 

 less of size, can be accomplished provided a suitable program is adopted and 



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