TESTING OF FOWL OTHER THAN CHICKENS 



It is of interest to note that, while there was a great increase in the number of 

 chickens tested during the past season, the number of turkeys tested was slightly- 

 less than that of the previous season. This may be explained by the shortage 

 in feed and the Government's request that the turkey industry decrease its pro- 

 duction. This development was not announced until the bulk of the chickens 

 had been tested and before the time turkeys usually are tested. However, 103 

 turkey flocks, representing 21,473 birds, were tested, including 11 flocks which 

 were on farms with tested chickens. 



The following table summarizes the results of testing fowl other than chickens: 



Fowl 



Number 



of 



Birds 



Reactors 



Number Percent 



Number 



of 



Tests 



Reactors 



Number 



Percent 



Turkeys 21,473 298 



Guineas. 7 



Ducks 39 



Geese — 75 



Pheasants 977 



Game -. 7 



Pigeons 5 



Totals 22,583 298 



1.39 



2.26 



34,029 



744 



The percentage of reactors among turkeys is less than that of last year (2.83 

 percent). These reactors were confined to 12 flocks, representing 6,045 birds. 

 The percentages of reactors ranged from 0.83 to 55.56. In a few infected flocks, 

 retesting was conducted, but the results were not as satisfactory as with chickens. 



The following summary gives the range in flock sizes for the turke>' flocks tested : 



Five of the 12 infected flocks had 200 or more birds tested on the premises. 

 Approximately 25 percent of the tested birds are in infected flocks, which should 

 be of great concern to the Massachusetts turkey industry. A more conscientious 

 effort should be made to eliminate pullorum disease from the various breeding 

 flocks in Massachusetts. A more eff^ective educational and testing program should 



