(riant, New Hampshires, Rhode Island Red, White American, White 

 Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock, White Wyandotte and Cross-breeds. 



Of the total number of samples tested, 611,099 (78,033 hens and 533,066 

 pullets) were from females and 62,123 from males. Of these 0.50 and 0.61 

 percent respectively were positive. It is of interest to note that the per- 

 centage of reactors was higher among the males. This may be explained 

 in part by the fact that the bulk of the reactors were in one large flock 

 in which the percentage of male reactors was higher than female re- 

 actors. 



Annual Testing of Flocks 



Annual testing of all birds on the premises is essential in determining 

 the true pullorum status of a flock. Massachusetts poultrymen realize 

 the soundness of this measure in establishing and maintaining a pullorum- 

 clean flock. In view of the many possible avenues through which pullorum 

 infection may enter a flock, poultrymen cannot afford to jeopardize the 

 standing of their flocks through intermittent and partial flock testing. 



Table 2 shows the progress that has been made in the establishment 

 and maintenance of pullorum-free flocks. 



The number of flocks tested for the first time was 66, which is a slight 

 decrease from the previous season. In this group, 44,537 birds were 

 tested and 0.11 percent reactors found. The infection was confined to 

 five flocks and in all but one, less than 400 birds were tested. In three 

 of the smaller flocks, the percentage of infection ranged from 6.91 to 27.08. 



Table 2. Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



These figures clearly suggest that some flock owners might well con- 

 sider a carefully planned eradication program before expending money for 

 the testing of a heavily infected flock. Short-interval retesting is ex- 

 pensive, and unless the value of the stock warrants such expenditure, 

 retesting is not recommended. Therefore, if an owner knows that in- 

 fection exists in his flock, he should determine which plan to follow — a 

 retesting program or the replacement of the infected flock by stock from 

 pullorum-clean sources. 



