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POULTRY HEALTH PROGRAM ; 



The division will continue to quarantine any farms or 

 premises where an outbreak of Pullorum-typhoid, Laringo- 

 trakeitis, Coryza, or any contagious or infectious disease 

 occurs, and will keep constant supervision of said areas 

 until the problem is eradicated and the premises cleaned up 

 and disinfected. 



The second year of Mj^coplasma Gallisepticum vaccination 

 program was completed in May 1970. 



The second year report follows: 



Flock owners must recognize that eventual eradication 

 of M.G. "S-6" serotype should be the ultimate goal of the 

 entire poultry industry. At the present time a research 

 program based on intentional exposure is necessary for the 

 market egg producers in Massachusetts to remain competitive 

 in the poultry industry. 



Field trials were initiated on May 10, 1968, to deter- 

 mine the efficacy of producing a modified live vaccine for 

 the control of M. G. infection. During the period covered 

 bj"- this reaprt, a total of 507,120 young replacement pullets 

 were exposed to the M.G. vaccine between 10-23 weeks of age. 

 Resident poultrymen have supported the program with contri- 

 butions totaling $10,434.40. All receipts have been deposited 

 in the trust fund entitled "Poultry Vaccine Research Fund" 

 and expended according to needs for supplies and equipment 

 connected v/ith this activity. 



The reliability of using our modified M.G. vaccine by 

 the intranasal route of inoculation was adequately established 

 during the first year of field trials. Due to the high cost 

 of labor, studies were undertaken to test the feasibility of 

 applying the vaccine by a mass method to improve vaccination 

 efficiency. Almost half of the totoal number of flocks 

 were exposed by either the spray or water method during the 

 second year. Present experience indicates that the water 

 method is the one most preferred. 



