13 



Table 6. Twenty-Six Year Pullorum Disease Testing Summary 



♦Based on total birds tested: 1927-28, 190,658 birds; 1928-29, 254,512 birds. 



COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS 



Annual Testing of All Birds on the Premises: The importance of testing all 

 birds on the premises annually has been recognized for many years. It is ap- 

 parent that the true pullorum status of a flock cannot be determined by testing 

 only part of the birds in the flock. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that a 

 flock which has passed a negative test will remain negative. The fact that 

 "breaks" occur is sufficient evidence to indicate the necessity of annual testing. 



This past season there were 37 flocks, representing 113,176 birds, with an 

 intermittent testing history. This was approximately 10 percent of the total 

 birds tested. It is hoped that the number of intermittently tested flocks may be 

 kept at a very low minimum, because a sound breeding program includes the 

 annual testing of flocks. 



A total of 16 flocks was only partially tested the past season. The number 

 of birds tested in these flocks was 13,192. Again it may be emphasized that 

 testing only part of the flock does not give the true pullorum picture of the 

 flock. It is essential in a sound breeding program to test all the birds on the 

 premises even though the untested birds may not be used for breeders. It should 



