8 



Only 10 flocks were classified as infected at the close of the testing 

 season. A total of 34,853 birds was tested in these 10 flocks located in 5 

 counties. Among the 10 flocks, only 6 revealed more than 1 percent infec- 

 tion. In one flock, 241 reactors were detected among 5,200 birds tested 

 revealing a percentage of infection of 4.63. This number of reactors 

 represented the bulk of the reactors detected for all the flocks tested. A 

 retest of this flock revealed that the percentage of infection had been 

 reduced from 4.63 to 0.73. In another infected flock, 38.92 percent re- 

 actors were detected. This flock was tested for the first time. It is 

 rather unusual to find a flock with such high infection. 



Table 4. Non-Reacting and Positive Flocks Classified by Counties 



County 



100% Tested 



Birds 



Partially Tested 



Flocks Birds 



Total 



Flocks 



Birds 



Non-Reacting Flocks 



Barnstable 



Berkshire 



Bristol 



Essex 



Franklin 



Hampden 



Hampshire 



Middlesex 



Norfolk 



Plymouth 



Worcester 



Totals 



Bristol 



Franklin 



Hampden 



Middlesex 



Norfolk 



Totals 



2,898 



31,955 



34,853 



These results are very encouraging since so few flocks were classified 

 as infected at the close of the testing season. It represents the lowest 

 number of positive flocks for any one year during the 21-year testing 

 period. Also, the amount of infection in the positive flocks was slight 

 with a few exceptions. The Massachusetts poultry industry is in a fortu- 

 nate and enviable position in regard to its supply of pullorum-free stock. 

 Every precaution should be taken to maintain or improve this position. 

 More local buying from pullorum-free flocks should be encouraged to 

 help stamp out pullorum infection. 



