Controlling coccidiosis is one of the main challenges facing today’s poultry. Commonly used control methods, chemical coccidiostats and ionophores, are not completely effective due to the development of resistance and the residues they leave in meat and animal products.

Intestinal optimizer pronutrients represent an effective natural solution for the control of coccidiosis that does not have these disadvantages. Two trials will be presented below, where intestinal optimizer pronutrients are used to prevent and control coccidiosis outbreaks. These farms were suffering recurrent episodes of coccidiosis from week 3 of life despite using vaccination and/or coccidiostats.

Trial 1: Prevention of coccidiosis by intestinal optimizer pronutrients

Objective

To demonstrate the efficacy of liquid intestinal optimizer pronutrients (IOPs) to prevent coccidiosis in a farm with recurrent episodes.

Experimental design

Anticoccidial program

All flocks received vaccination against coccidiosis (HatchPak) in an incubator, plus a booster in the field at 0-4 days.

Liquid pronutrients were administered to one of the groups to enhance coccidiosis prevention.

Groups

• T1 CONTROL: vaccinated birds that do not receive additional coccidiostat, only the vaccine (19,500 birds)
• T2 PRONUTRIENTS: vaccinated birds receiving pronutrientes in liquid format for 5 days (20 – 25 d) at 0.5 ml/l in drinking water (18,600 birds)

Results

Regarding mortality, in the group with pronutrients there was no mortality peak in weeks 5 and 6.

Chart 1: Weekly mortality of both groups.  At week 5, T2 had a 1.78% lower mortality and, in week 6, it was 2.03% lower.

T2 (Pronutrients) improved average daily gain by 6.25% (+3.63 g/day). Improvements of 11.7% (-0.22 points) were also seen in the conversion ratio of T2.

Chart 2: average daily gain and the  feed conversion rate of the control and pronutrients groups.

Conclusions

Intestinal optimizer pronutrients administered in liquid through drinking water between days 20-25 in broilers helped to prevent the coccidiosis outbreak the farm used to suffer at weeks 4 and 5 of age, reducing mortality by 38.84%.

It also had a positive impact on average daily gain (+6.25%) and feed conversion rate (-13.25%) thanks to improving mucosa status and general health, so that birds spend less energy fighting the infestation.

Trial 2: Intestinal optimizer pronutrients to control a coccidiosis outbreak

Objective

To demonstrate the efficacy of intestinal optimizer pronutrients (IOPs) in liquid to prevent coccidiosis in a farm with recurrent episodes, in which an outbreak is declared.

Experimental design

Anticoccidial program

broilers received HatchPak vaccine in an and booster in the field on day 4. They also received a natural coccidiostat in the growth diet from day 16.

Additionally, IOPs were used as a control measure in the event of coccidiosis outbreaks.

Coccidiosis outbreak

Daily mortality began to increase from the 18^th.

Necropsies were performed to diagnose the coccidiosis outbreak. It is confirmed that the lesions correspond to the presence of E. acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella.

IOPs were administered as a control measure at 1 ml/l in drinking water from day 21 to 23.

 Results

The effect of the IPOs was assessed by analyzing mortality. A reduction in mortality of 88% was evidenced (see chart 3).

Chart 3: Daily mortality is observed from day 15 to 24.

Weekly mortality also shows the reduction with the use of pronutrients.

Chart 4: Representation of weekly mortality of the batch.

Conclusions

Intestinal optimizer pronutrients in drinking water:

• They reduce mortality caused by the outbreak of coccidiosis, with a 41% reduction in 1 day and 88% reduction 3 days after the supplementation.
• Although these IOPs work best to prevent coccidiosis, in emergency cases it can be used as a control measure. For greater efficacy, they should be administered at 1 ml/l as soon as possible after the first signs of coccidiosis and the administration should last until signs of disease and/or mortality are reduced (for at least 5 days).

Final assessment:

Intestinal optimizer pronutrients can be administered to prevent or control coccidiosis when there are vaccine and/or coccidiostats fail to protect animals, as observed in these two trials.

Intestinal optimizer pronutrients are a technology developed and patented by BIOVET S.A and are marketed in powder and liquid format under the name ALQUERNAT ZYCOX.