also might be responsible for the increased infectivity. Stock from pullorum-free 

 flocks should not be considered unsuitable for importation into infected areas 

 when proper eradication and prevention measures are observed. The appearance 

 of a high degree of infection in clean stock cannot be held against the stock, but 

 involves failure to observe the following disease eradication and prevention meas- 

 ures. 



1. All the birds on the premises should be tested each year. 



2. If infection is present, the entire flock should be retested within four to 

 six weeks until a negative report is obtained, provided the value of the birds 

 justifies the expenditure. 



3. Every reactor, regardless of its value, should be removed from the premises 

 and sold for slaughter immediately upon receipt of the report. 



4. Offal from all birds dressed for market or home consumption as well as 

 dead birds that are not fit for consumption should be burned. 



5. The poultry houses, runs, and equipment, should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected immediately after removal of reactors. Provide an empty pen to 

 each house to facilitate cleaning and disinfection during the winter months. Use 

 disinfectants approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. 



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 re- 

 admitted 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 ad- 

 ditions or replacements in your flock. 



8. Eggs should not be saved for hatching until after a flock has been tested 

 and all the infected birds removed. Early pullet testing will permit early hatch- 

 ing. 



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 not buy feed in bags that have been used or exposed 

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



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

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



14. Poultrymen should not use equipment that has been exposed to or con- 

 taminated with infective material unless it is properly cleaned and sterilized or 

 disinfected. 



Non-Reacting and Positive Flocks Classified by Counties 



Table 4 gives the distribution of non-reacting and positive flocks by counties. 

 In the 13 counties, 350 non-reacting flocks were identified, representing 591,628 

 birds. Of this total, 323 were 100 percent tested and 27 were partially tested, 

 representing 573,378 and 18,250 birds, respectively. The number of birds in 

 non-reacting flocks is by far greater (almost 95,000) than the number found in 

 any year during the 22-year testing period. It is also encouraging that more of 

 the flocks are 100 percent tested. 



Worcester, Middlesex, Bristol, and Essex counties led in the number of tested 

 birds in non-reacting flocks. 



