Evaluation of the Efficacy of Salinomycin in the Control of Coccidiosis in Chicks

Abstract

Salinomycin (Coxistac) was tested for efficacy in broilers reared in floor pens at 60 and 80 ppm fed continuously from 1 to 56 days of age. One trial was conducted. Comparisons were made with unmedicated, infected and medicated, noninfected treatments (controls) in addition to infected treatments given either monensin at 100 ppm or halofuginone at 3 ppm continuously (days 1 to 56) in the feed. Coccidia exposure was obtained by infection via the feed. Salinomycin was highly efficacious at 60 ppm based upon improved performance, lesion score, hematocrit, and serum optical density compared with the unmedicated, infected group. Statistical analysis of main effects on weight gain, feed conversion ratio, hematocrit value, and serum optical density showed no significant differences between salinomycin, monensin, or halofuginone. The weight gain of birds given salinomycin at 80 ppm was depressed significantly (P less than .01) at 56 days as a result of decreased feed consumption.