10 



Comparison of 1942-43 and 1943-44 Testing 



Table 5 gives the comparison of the 1942-43 and 1943-44 testing results for 

 the different counties. An increase in the number of flocks was observed in all 

 but one county, Dukes; an increase in tested birds in all but two counties, 

 Dukes and Norfolk; and an increase in non-reacting flocks in all counties but 

 Dukes and Franklin. 



For all counties combined, significant increases were observed as follows: 



1942-43 1943-44 Increase 



Tested flocks 332 413 81 



Tested birds 637,666 762,066 124,400 



Tests 649,137 791,596 142,459 



Non-reacting flocks 317 386 69 



100 percent tested, non-reacting flocks 295 354 59 



Birds in 100 percent tested, non-reacting flocks . 583,733 692,556 108,823 



Infected flocks 15 27 12 



"Breaks" 13 17 4 



The average percentage of reactors was reduced from 0.48 to 0.11. Of the 

 total birds tested, 90.8 percent were in 100 percent tested non-reacting flocks. 

 Sixty flocks tested in 1942-43 were not tested in 1943-44. 



These results show that the volume of work has increased tremendously during 

 the past year. The laboratory, however, has put forth every effort to meet the 

 requests for testing, and few flock owners have had their testing delayed at the 

 request of the laboratory. If those owners whose flocks could be tested during 

 late summer or early fall would notify the laboratory, it would help to relieve the 

 testing load during November, December, and January, thus enabling the 

 laboratory to carry on the work with less temporary help, which is difficult or 

 impossible to obtain. 



Twenty-Four- Year Testing Summary 



Table 6 gives the testing results for a 24-year testing period. Progress in the 

 establishment and maintenance of pullorum-free flocks is still evident. It is 

 hoped that this trend may continue and that the disease will be eliminated further 

 from poultry flocks in Massachusetts. 



Comments and Suggestions 



Annual Testhig: The majority of poultrymen recognize the importance of 

 annual testing of flocks for pullorum disease. Testing results show that flocks 

 are more apt to harbor infection if flock owners do not follow an annual testing 

 program. Sixty, or 18 percent, of the 332 flocks tested in 1942-43 were not 

 subjected to test in 1943-44. This past year the intermittently tested group of 

 flocks was the highest of the four groups in percentage of infection. Progress in 

 the elimination of the disease would be more rapid if flock owners would follow 

 an annual testing program. It must be recognized that a certain percentage of 

 flocks drop out from year to year for reasons such as discontinuance of the 

 poultry business or change in type of management. On the other hand, there are 

 certain flock owners who continue in breeding operations without subjecting 

 their flocks to annual testing. Such a practice prevents their flocks from being 

 ofificially recognized by the official state agency, as well as hindering the establish- 

 ment and maintenance of pullorum-free flocks. 



