Comparative Efficacy of Different Feed Additive Anticoccidials in Broilers

Abstract

The study was designed to compare the efficacy of different feed additive anticoccidials and coccidiosis vaccines. A total of 240 day-old-broiler chicks were purchased and raised for 42 days under good husbandry and hygienic conditions. The birds were randomly divided into eight groups i.e. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H comprising of 30 birds each. Group A was uninfected unmedicated control while group B was infected unmedicated control. Groups C, D, E and F were given commercial feed having anticoccidials Coxistac, Sacox, Elancoban and Avatec respectively. Groups G and H were given unmedicated feed and were vaccinated at day 3 and 10. All the groups except that of group A were given primary and challenge doses of infection on day 22nd and 35th. The oocysts count was done on 5th, 6th and 7th day after each infection. The feed consumption and weight gain were recorded weekly. Record of mortality was kept and postmortem of dead birds was also performed. The results revealed that Sacox (salinomycin sodium) as anti-coccidial in feed was significantly better (P < 0.05) than all the treatments in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency (FCR), oocyst count and reduction in mortality. The results of other anticoccidials were not satisfactory, while both the vaccinated groups i.e. group G and H performed well in terms of oocyst count and decrease in mortality but their weight gain and feed efficiency were not good.