30 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 407 



94. What is necessary for successful eradication? Successful eradication is 

 based upon the adoption of sound, effective, and uniform methods, properly and 

 skillfully executed. A sound eradication program for the individual flock or for 

 the poultry industry as a whole should include measures that will prevent the 

 spread of the disease (through various channels as discussed in this bulletin) 

 and permit effective eradication of the disease. The adoption of such methods 

 is no more important than their proper execution. Control officials and poultry- 

 men should not expect to attain their goal in eradication if the measures are not 

 justly put into practice. Too frequently either delay or failure in eradication is 

 due to faulty execution of recommended measures. The following measures 

 should be observed in establishing and maintaining a pullorum disease-free flock: 



(a) All the birds on the premises should be tested each year. 



(b) If infection is present, the entire flock should be retested within four to 

 six weeks until a negative report is obtained, provided the value of the birds 

 justifies the expenditure. 



(c) Every reactor, regardless of its value, should be removed from the prem- 

 ises and sold for slaughter immediately upon receipt of the report. 



(d) Offal from all birds dressed for market or home consumption as well as 

 dead birds that are not fit for consumption should be burned. 



(e) The poultry houses, runs, and equipment, should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected immediately after removal of reactors. An empty pen should be 

 provided in each house to facilitate cleaning and disinfection durmg the winter 

 months. Use disinfectants approved by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. 



(f) Birds removed from the premises to egg-laying contests, exhibitions, etc., 

 should be held in quarantine and determined free of disease before they are re- 

 admitted into the flock. 



(g) Purchase of stock in the form of adults, chicks, and eggs should be from 

 known pullorum disease-free flocks. Consult your county agent regarding 

 additions or replacements in your flock. 



(h) Eggs should not be saved for hatching until after a flock has been tested 

 and all the infected birds removed. Early pullet testing will permit early hatch- 

 ing. 



(i) Fresh and infertile eggs from unknown or infected sources should not 

 be fed to chickens or exposed to animals such as crows, sparrows, and skunks that 

 may carry or spread the infection. 



(j) Poultrymen should not custom hatch for untested or infected flocks 

 (including fowl other than chickens). 



(k) Owners of pullorum disease-free flocks should not have hatching done 

 where infected eggs or stock may be found. 



(1) Poultrymen should not buy feed in bags that have been used or exposed 

 to infection. (Such bags if properly disinfected will be safe for further use.) 



(m) Poultrymen should regard fowl other than chickens as a possible source 

 of pullorum infection unless tested and found free from pullorum disease. 



(n)' Poultrymen should not use equipment that has been exposed to or 

 contaminated with infective material unless it is properly cleaned and sterilized 

 or disinfected. 



95. Why are sound, effective, and uniform methods of control and eradica- 

 tion necessary? Such methods are necessary to create faith and confidence in 

 the eradication results upon which a profitable poultry industry rests. 



