IVhruary. J !»?;)] AGRTCT'r.xrRAL experiments 1928 31 



lari^vst and l)e.st develoi^ed chickens arc the ones that show this troul^lc. 

 There is a loss of color in the lej^s and an inflammation of the small intes- 

 tines. (Occasionally coccidial forms are i)resent. hut in some instances no 

 exidence of coccidia can he detected nor do the chickens suhsequcntly come 

 down with coccidiosis. TTowcver, in most instances, chickens sufferini^ 

 frfim this crazy chick disturhance suhsequcntly come down with an acute 

 form of coccidiosis. \o dehnite cause for this condition has been found, 

 but irritation of the intestinal tract is suspected. Irritants in the feed, such 

 as spoiled feeds, cold water for very young chickens and acute coccidiosis. 

 all ])roduce these typical symptoms. In some instances the use of a poor 

 j^rade of cod liver oil or the use of too much oil has been suggested, since 

 the discontinuance of the oil appears to check the trouble. The use of a 

 40*^^ powdered milk mash has cJieckcd it in every instance in which treat- 

 ment has been advised. 



Twenty-nine cases of Vitamin A deficiency were diagnosed. Tn every 

 instance the chicks had been fed on a commercial feed, and a low ])ercent- 

 age of yellow corn and the absence of green feed are considered res])onsible. 



The more acute infectious diseases, including fowl typhoid and chicken- 

 pox, flid not increase jn the state. Two new flock infections with chicken- 

 pox were reported and in four flocks the disease was eliminated. A definite 

 policy in regard to the prevention of the introduction of these more acute 

 diseases has been followed rigidly during the ]xast three years. In most 

 flocks chicken-pox has been introduced through the purchase of breeding 

 cockerels. Since it is well known that many potiltry diseases are carried 

 over from year to year in mature birds, this practice has been discouraged, 

 and the introduction of new blood secured through the purchase of hatch- 

 ing eggs or day-old chicks from accredited flocks. (State Fund.) 



TESTING FOR WHITE DIARRHEA 



Tn the white diarrhea testing cam])aign 79,539 birds were tested in 159 

 flocks during the period from May 15. 1927, to March 30, 1928. About 

 20,000 of the birds were hens and 00,000 pullets, of which 2,121 proved 

 reactors. The percent of infection was 2.92, about .8 percent greater than 

 last year. Twelve new flocks were added to the accredited list from 63 

 candidates. Five flocks were removed from the list. There are now 54 

 flocks on the accredited list, containing 3(>,330 birds. 



Due to the safety value received from testing before the hatching season, 

 to the reinfestation of a few accredited flocks each year and to tlie mislead- 

 ing advertising that has been carried on by flock owners in regard to bacil- 

 lary white diarrhea accreditation, a definite change in the regulations has 

 been made to guard against these troubles. 



When a flock has been subjected to an official test before the breeding 

 season, in which all of tlie birds on the farm have been tested and found 

 to be without react(^rs, the flock shall be classified as "Tested for Bacillary 

 White Diarrhea and found to be Without Reactors" and the flock owner's 

 name shall be ])laced on a list so named. 



When a flock has been subjected to two tests, one before the breeding 

 season, including all of the birds in the flock, and the other after June 1 of 

 the following summer, including all the birds in the flock, which must rep- 

 resent at least 60% of the original birds tested and found in both tests to 



