11 



plying and spreading in a Hock. Therefore, breeding flocks should be 

 tested annually as long as there exists the possibility of reinfection from 

 avenues of infection over which control is not complete at the present time. 

 Annual testing is a safeguard to the flock owner and to his customers. 



1. Testing All Birds on the Premises: — During the past year, 49 of the 

 309 flock owners tested only part of their flocks. Only 6 of the 49 Hocks 

 revealed infection. This, of course, does not mean that no infection ex- 

 isted in the other 43 flocks. In cases where the amount of infection is 

 small, it is possible that the disease- might exisl among tin- untested birds, 

 which in turn could serve as a possible source ol infection tor the tested 

 birds. Infection may spread from one adult bird to another, either In- 

 direct contactor indirectly, through contaminated litter, eggs, etc. There- 

 fore, to determine whether or not a flock is infected, all birds on the 

 premises must be tested before the breeding flock can be regarded as 

 reliably free from pullorum infection. 



3. Official Recognition of Pullorum-Free blocks: — The Massachusetts De- 

 partment of Agriculture recognizes two official grades for pullorum-free 

 flocks: "Massachusetts Pullorum Passed" and "Massachusetts Pullorum 

 Clean." In the final list published by the Department in April 1941, 186 

 "Pullorum (dean" flocks representing 384,738 birds, and 11 "1'ullorum 

 Passed" (locks representing 33,639 birds were reported. According to the 

 number of 100 percent tested, non-reacting flocks, not all flock owners 

 whose flocks were eligible tor either one of the two grades applied for 

 recognition. In order to make the mllcst use ol such flocks, their owner- 

 are urged to have their names appear on the official list published by the 

 Massachusetts Department ol Agriculture, This list serves as a useful 

 guide in locating officially recognized pullorum-free stock. 



4. Local Buying of Stock: Local buying of pullorum-free stock is recom- 

 mended. Such a practice will permit greater interest ami closer coopera 

 tion between the seller and buyer. Purchases should not he based en- 

 tirely on the merit of advertisements, because claims in an advertisement 

 may be misleading and at times are false. Every purchaser should care- 

 fully investigate before he buys and should remember that the lowest- 

 priced chick is frequently the most expensive chick if quality in breeding 

 and freedom from pullorum disease art- lacking. 



Publication of this Document Afj-roved nr Commission on Administration and Finance 

 8m .. » I- (i.'iL's 



