B: Effect on Broiler Pigmentation - Merck Animal Health

369SCHERING-PLOUGH ANIMAL HEALTHtechnical service bulletinCoccivac ® -B: <strong>Effect</strong> on Broiler PigmentationCoccivac-B vaccine is a successful alternativeto the standard in-feed anticoccidial therapyused by most of the broiler industry. While ithas been used extensively in a wide range ofbird sizes and in many places there has been littleexperience with use of a live coccidiosis vaccinein a yellow bird program.It is known that for Coccivac-B to be successfulthere must be an adequate cycling of theoocysts. During this time period there is somedisruption of the intestinal lining resulting inloss of performance as compared to standardanticoccidial therapy (Mathis '99). Followingthis transient period there is healing of theintestinal wall with full recovery. Because ofthe transient disruption, there has been questionsto whether Coccivac-B vaccine could beused in a yellow bird program.Key PointsBoth Coccivac-B vaccine and salinomycinperformed as expected in protectingbirds from coccidia challenge as exhibitedby OPG counts.There was no significant difference betweenthe Coccivac-B vaccine and salinomycingroups on pigmentation scores.No reduction in pigmentation wasobserved by the use of Coccivac-B vaccine.Dr. Greg Mathis conducted a floor pen study,at the Southern Poultry Research facilities todetermine if Coccivac-B vaccine could be usedsuccessfully in a yellow bird program.Experimental DesignA total of 700 Ross X Cobb, day-old: chickswere divided into two treatment groups consistingof Coccivac-B dayold Spraycox ® vaccinatedand non-vaccinated chicks. Chicks weresexed and divided equally into 14 pens with 7reps per treatment. Diets were formulated tomatch those used by an integrator producingyellow birds. Starter feed was fed from day 0to 18 days as a crumble, grower was fed from19 to 35 days and finisher was fed from 36 to44 days as pellets. To increase xanthophyll levels,all grower (12 mg/ton) and finisher (15mg/ton) feed was supplementedwith HI-Gold.One set of diets contained salinomycin at 66PPM in starter and grower feed while the othercontained no coccidiostat (Coccivac-B birds).To verify normal cycling of Coccivac-B vaccineand adequate protection afforded by salinomycin,oocyst shedding was examined. Onday 20 fecal samples from each pen were collectedand the oocysts per gram of fecal material(OPG) were determined by pen.Pigmentation scores of shank and skin weretaken on days 40, 42 and 44 from 5 male and 5female birds randomly selected from each penby Dr. Greg Mathis using the Roche Color Fan.

ResultsOn day 20, the average OPG count for theCoccivac birds was 25,600, while the averagecount for the salinomycin birds was 3,100. Thisdemonstrated that there was cycling of theCoccivac-B vaccine and that salinomycin wascontrolling infection.Representative male and female birds from eachpen were pigmentation scored on days 40,42 and 44. The Roche Color Fan was used todetermine pigmentation score, which is basedon a standard cotorimetric system providing anobjective color rating. Birds were not fully pigmentedby day 40 having received only 4 daysof the higher pigmented (15mg/ton) finisherfeed. Better pigmentation was observed on day44 with no significant difference between treatmentgroups, although there was a numericaladvantage to the Coccivac-B group.Pigentation Score ResultsCoccivac BSalinomycinScore Date Male Female Ave. Male Female Ave.Day 40 2.5 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.2Day 42 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.9Day 44 3.9 3.3 3.6 3.8 3.3 3.6Examples from the pigment-fedCoccivac-B and salinomycin groups to anon-pigmented salinomycin controlgroup (this group was fed the sameration, minus the 15mg/t of HI-Gold).[ Innovative Solutions in Poultry Health ]Coccivac and Spraycox are registered trademarks of Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation.Copyright © 2004, 2007 Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation. All rights reserved.