12 



COMPARISON OF 1944-45 AND 1945-46 TESTING 



Table 5 gives the comparison of the 1944-45 and 1945-46 testing results for 

 the different counties. Increases in the number of tested flocks and non-reacting 

 flocks were observed in 10 counties. In all counties increases were observed in 

 the number of tested birds. Six counties had an increase in the percentage of 

 infection, five counties had a decrease, and one had no change. 



For the State as a whole, a comparison of the results for the past two years is 

 given in the following summary-: 



1944-45 1945-46 Increase 



Tested flocks 458 



Tested birds 836,481 



Tests... 943,987 



Non-reactihg flocks 431 



100 percent tested, non-reacting flocks.... 413 



Birds in ICO percent tested, non-reacting flocks 776,089 



Infected flocks 27 



"Breaks" 21 



These results show that the testing volume increased markedly during the 

 past year. It is hoped that the percentage of infection, the number of infected 

 flocks, and the number of "breaks" can be reduced. 



The results also indicate that the poultry population is relatively free of 

 pullorum disease because, as the number of new flocks tested increases over the 

 previous seasons, a very small number of infected flocks is found. It should not 

 be construed from the foregoing statement that it is unnecessary to test each year. 

 As long as there are foci of infection within the State and the introduction of 

 infection into the State is not prohibited, flock owners should recognize that 

 annual testing is necessary to determine whether the infection may have spread 

 to their flocks. It is hoped that sometime in the future the disease will have been 

 sufficiently eradicated to permit flocks to go untested for one, two, or three years. 

 If such a program were possible, it would be an economic saving to the industry. 



TWENTY-SIX YEAR TESTING SUMMARY 



A 26-year testing summary is presented in Table 6. Continued progress in 

 testing and in the control and eradication of the disease is noted from the results 

 listed in the table. For the last six years, the number of birds in non-reacting 

 flocks, expressed in terms of percentage of total birds tested, has not been below 

 90. 



