Replacing the coccidiostats: defining cost-effective surrogates

The poultry industry will soon face new challenges, notably drastic restrictions on coccidiostats, which have been discredited due to their residues persisting in certain food animals and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens [1]. The demand for meat continues to grow, encouraging agricultural intensification and thereby an increase in the incidence of production diseases. The annual cost of coccidiosis is estimated at over 3 billion dollars and, today, the disease represents the main threat for the poultry industry worldwide [2]. Thus the worst is yet to come if sustainable solutions are not found before the regulations change.

Saponins, naturally produced by some plants, are capable of lysing coccidia [3]. To determine whether coccidiostats can be replaced by our saponin-based product, an assay was performed on 75 broiler chickens. Two groups received the standard diet supplemented either with coccidiostats (starter, grower: Clopidol 500 g/T; finisher: Salinomycin 600 g/T) or with saponins (plants rich in sarsapogenin and diosgenin, 250 g/T); the control group did not receive any feed supplementation. On the 14^th day, the chickens were inoculated with coccidia (Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. praecox).

The saponins significantly reduced the oocyst loads and the lesion scores, and augmented body weight compared to the control group. They were as effective as the coccidiostats and provide a better return on investment.

Cost-effective and effective in preventing coccidiosis, our saponin-based product proves to be a good surrogate. Contrary to the coccidiostats currently used, it is safe for all species (no toxicity, no microbial resistance, no residue in meat) and it is 100% natural.

[1] Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy. State of the World's Antibiotics. CDDEP: Washington, D.C. 2015

[2] Williams RB. Avian Pathol 2002;31:317 – 353

[3] Pasaribu T, Astuti DA, Wina E, Setiyono A. Int J Poultry Sci 2014;13:347 – 352