10 



TWENTY-EIGHT YEAR TESTING SUMMARY 



Table 6 is a twenty-eight year testing summary, which shows continued pro- 

 gress in eliminating the disease from flocks. With the exception of one j'ear 

 (1940-41), the percentage of reactors this past year was the lowest on record for 

 Massachusetts. The percentage (97.20) of birds in non-reacting flocks was the 

 highest on recora. 



Table 6. Twenty-Eight 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: It is realized that the demand 

 for testing is directly i elated to the demand for hatching eggs and baby chicks. 

 This may explain in part the number of flocks in the intermittent testing group. 

 This group of -flocks is not stabilized in producing hatching eggs and chicks from 

 year to year. When not producing hatching eggs or baby chicks the flocks are 

 not tested. Consequently a flock of this type will not be given the same atten- 

 tion from the standpoint of maintaining a pullorum-free standing as is given to a 

 flock which is producing new stock annually. However, the "in and out" flocks 

 can be safeguarded against pullorum infection through careful vigilance in keep- 

 ing out pullorum and by replacing untested birds with pullorum-clean stock. 

 In this 'A ay the flock owner will be able to qualify his flock for the pullorum-clean 

 grade when he desires to use it for breeding purposes, provioed no reactors are 

 found when the birds are subjected to test. 



