DISTRIBUTION OF TESTS AND REACTORS 



In Table 1 the number of tests and reactors are listed by counties. From 

 the 12 counties a total of 943,987 samples was tested which revealed 0.12 percent 

 reactors. No reactors were found in Berkshire and Dukes counties. In the 

 remaining 10 counties, the percentages of infection ranged from .008 to 0.43. 

 Middlesex, Worcester, Plymouth, Bristol, and Essex counties lead in the number 

 of tests. In all of these five counties the number of tests exceeded one hundred 

 thousand. 



The following breeds and varieties were tested: Bantam, Barred Plymouth 

 Rock, Brahma, Crosses, Dark Cornish, Jersey White Giant, New Hampshire, 

 Rhode Island Red, White American, White Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock, and 

 White Wyandotte. The bulk of the increase in samples over the previous season 

 occurred among three breeds, Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, and 

 New Hampshire. Reactors were detected among the Rhode Island Red, Barred 

 Plymouth Rock, White Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, Brahma, White 

 Wj'andotte, Bantam, Jersey White Giant, and Dark Cornish. 



A total of 858,686 samples was collected from females (hens 62,499 and pullets 

 796,187). The incidence of reactors was lower among the hens (0.07 percent) 

 than among the pullets (0.12 percent). Among 85,301 samples tested from males, 

 0.11 percent were detected as reactors. It is of interest to note that the incidence 

 of reactors among males was about the same as among the pullets. 



ANNUAL TESTING OF FLOCKS 



The results from flocks tested for the first time, intermittently, for two con- 

 secutive years, and for three or more consecutive years are given in Table 2. 



There was a slight decrease over the previous season in the number of flocks 

 and birds tested for the first time, but the number of samples tested and the 

 percentage of reactors were slightly greater. There were 80 non-reacting flocks, 

 representing 89,851 birds, and 8 positive flocks, representing 7,212 birds. 



In the group tested intermittently, the number of flocks was the same as in 

 the previous season, but the number of birds and samples greatly exceeded the 

 figures for 1943-44. The percentage of infection (0.42 )was also less. Twenty- 

 three flocks, representing 41,082 birds, were identified as non-reacting; while 

 seven flocks which represented an unusually large number of birds (21,299) were 

 classified as positive. 



Table 2. Annual Testing Versus Single and Intermittent Testing 



