March, 1938] Agricultural Research in N. H. 37 



pullorum was not isolated. The remaiuing 42 birds from 11 flocks were 

 positive. 



This study shows the importance of necropsy in a flock that has 

 only a few suspicious or positive reactors before giving an official rating 

 on that flock. {Purnell Fund) 



Acidophilus Milk Helps Control Coccidiosis 



Birds affected with chronic coccidiosis, as shown by a recovery of 

 the oocysts in the fecal material, were fed acidophilus milk {Lactohacil- 

 his acidophilus) for a period of one month by C. L. Martin, T. B. 

 Charles, R. C. Durgin. At the end of that time a fecal examination 

 showed no more oocysts of chronic coccidiosis ; neither was there any 

 indication that the Lactobacillus acidophilus organism had been im- 

 planted in the flora of the intestinal tract. The attempt will be made 

 to isolate a chicken strain of this organism that may be inoculated into 

 the intestinal tract in an effort to get a product that will remain viable. 



During this past year there came to our attention a condition of 

 chronic coccidiosis occurring in very young chicks, as early as three and 

 four weeks of age. Associated with this disease was that of rickets. 

 An analysis of the feed used showed it to have the proper amount of 

 Vitamin "D" to protect chicks against rickets. It was thought that 

 the coccidiosis condition was responsible for the rickets in that it dam- 

 aged the intestinal tract to the extent that it could not absorb a suffi- 

 cient amount of Vitamin "D. " 



Three lots of day old chicks, 20 to each lot, were used in an experi- 

 ment to try to produce this condition. One lot, two weeks of age, and 

 another four weeks of age were given oocysts of chronic coccidia, for a 

 period of ten weeks. At the end of that time they were killed, intes- 

 tines examined for lesions of chronic coccidiosis, a line test for rickets 

 made of one tibia and an ash determination of the other tibia bone made. 



Although a large percentage of the chicks in the inoculated groups 

 showed lesions of chronic coccidiosis, none of them showed significant 

 indications of the presence of rickets. {Purnell Fund) 



Pullorum Eradication 



All previous records for the number of blood samples tested for 

 Pullorum in one season were broken during the testing season of 1936- 

 1937. Under the supervision of the New Hampshire Department of 

 Agriculture there were 549,482 blood samples tested from 442 flocks as 

 compared to 370,176 samples from 284 flocks the previous season. This 

 was an increase of the total per cent, of the total adult birds tested in 

 the state from 30% in 1935-1936 to 47% in 1936-1937. Out of the 

 549,482 samples tested 99.64% or 547,486 samples tested did not react to 

 the test for Pullorum. It is believed that no other state shows such a 

 high percentage of the total number of birds in the state tested, with 

 such a low percentage of infection, that is 47 % of the adult birds tested 

 and 36 hundredths of one per cent, infection. 



The increase has been due to the lowered cost of testing to the 

 poultrymen. The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture now pays 



