Flocks raised without antibiotics (RWA) that received a non-ionophore anticoccidial after coccidiosis vaccination had fewer necrotic enteritis (NE) lesions, less mortality and better feed conversion when exposed to a Clostridium perfringens challenge in a recent controlled study presented at the 2017 International Poultry Scientific Forum.1
In this study, investigators spray-vaccinated more than 1,500 chicks with an attenuated coccidia vaccine at hatch, then divided them into treatment groups. Each group then received either Deccox® (decoquinate), Robenz® (robenidine hydrochloride) or Zoamix® (zoalene) between 14 and 28 days of age as part of a bio-shuttle program.
One additional group received no feed additive and served as a control, and another group received bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), which is indicated for NE prevention, said Manuel Da Costa, DVM, PhD, of Zoetis.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro - Non-ionophore anticoccidial may help manage necrotic enteritis in RWA flocks
0:09 Manuel Da Costa, DVM, PhD, Zoetis
0:19 Challenges of antibiotic-free production
1:53 Bioshuttle programs for coccidiosis control
3:33 Non-ionophore anticoccidials
4:43 Vaccination and anticoccidials
8:16 Preventing resistance
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