THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF PULLORUM 



DISEASE ERADICATION IN MASSACHUSETTS 



1950-51 



By the Poultry Disease Control Laboratory i 



INTRODUCTION 



The results for the 1950-51 testing season indicate that Massachusetts poultry- 

 men have been very successful in maintaining their flocks free of puUorum disease. 

 The average percentage of reactors (0.05) was slightly less than that of the prev- 

 ious season. Only six "breaks" were detected as compared with 18 during the 

 previous year. At the close of the season only six flocks were classified as infected. 

 Furthermore, 96.67 percent of all birds tested were in 100 percent tested non- 

 reacting flocks. 



Testing operations were carried out with few difficulties, and most flock owners 

 received service when they requested it. It is hoped that flock owners wfll con- 

 tinue to give their fuUest cooperation in order that a high quality of service may 

 be rendered the industry. 



Appreciation is also expressed for the cooperation and assistance received in 

 this program from the Extension Service, the Massachusetts Department of 

 Agriculture, and other agencies. 



SUMMARY OF SERVICE RENDERED 



Applications received 568 



Applications cancelled 12 



Flocks tested 556 



Chicken flocks 448 



Turkey flocks 87 



Pheasant flocks 21 



Number of tests 1,427,691 



Chickens: 



Routine 1,363,123 



Experimental 31,069 



Fowl other than chickens: 



Routine 33.488 



Experimental 11 



Owners receiving necropsy service 74 



Necropsies of reacting birds 137 



1 Poultry Disease Control Laboratory Staff: H. Van Roekel, Research Professor in charge; 

 G. H. Snoeyenbos, G. P. Faddoul, Research Professors; O. S. Flint, Miriam K. Clarke, O. M. 

 Olesiuk, Assistant Research Professors; C. D. Brandt, B. A. Bachman, G. W. Fellows, and H. A. 

 Peck, Research Assistants. Appreciation is extended to Dr. J. B. Lentz, who retired as Head of 

 the Department February 1, 1951, and to Dr. K. L. Bullis, who is now Head of the Department, 

 for the assistance given to the testing work. 



