DIVISION OF POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS 

 Lawrence E. Bliss, Supervisor 



POULTRY STANDARDIZATION 



During 1980 fiscal year, 7792 lots of eggs were inspected at the retail 

 level to certify that the product met Massachusetts standards for size 

 (weight) and quality, which must by statute be properly labeled on the 

 carton. Violations were found in 54 lots, representing about .59 per cent 

 of the total number inspected. 



One hundred eighty-five (185) quarterly surveillance visits were made to egg 

 handlers registered under the Egg Products Inspection Act. 



Currently, there are thirteen (13) firms licensed to pack eggs under 

 the logo: "Massachusetts Produced and Fresher"; the Poultry Division monitors 

 these firms periodically. 



POULTRY SERVICES 



Seventy- two (72) truckloads of frozen poultry, under the U.S.D.A. 

 School Lunch Program, were certified, as to quality, at the point of 

 delivery. 



Ninety-two (92) state institutional inspections were made with 739 

 cases of eggs being examined; 28 cases, or about 3.8 per cent were rejected 

 as not meeting the bid specifications of the Commonwealth. 



Thirty-one (31) days were spent by one inspector, under the U.S.D.A. 

 Fee Grading Program in egg packing plants. 



POULTRY DISEASES 



Under the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) , 115,567 birds, up 



15 per cent from the previous year, were blood tested for evidence of Pullorum- 

 Typhoid disease and found negative for the seventh year; 131,010 blood samples 

 were also taken for evidence of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum and found negative. 

 Thus, our Massachusetts p oult ry breeders were able to export 1,162,325 baby 

 chicks and 912,170 hatching eggs to foreign buyers. 



Division inspectors were on hand at 23 fairs and poultry shows to inspect 

 birds for clinical symptoms of illness and/or disease, and to determine 

 compliance of the exhibitors with the Pullorum-Typhoid testing program. 



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