The effects of salinomycin and roxarsone on the performance of broilers when included in the feed for four, five, or six weeks and infected with Eimeria species during the starter or grower phase of production.

Abstract

The timing and magnitude of a coccidian infection, judged by the numbers of oocysts of Eimeria present in the litter, were affected by the duration of medication. In birds medicated for 6 wk and infected at 35 d of age, fewer oocysts were produced than in birds medicated for 4 or 5 wk whether infected at 18 or 35 d of age. Feed conversion at 6, 7, and 8 wk of birds infected at 18 d and medicated for 6 wk was less than that of birds medicated for 4 or 5 wk. Birds infected at 35 d and medicated for 6 wk had a lower feed conversion than birds medicated for 5 wk. Immunity to Eimeria tenella had developed by 8 wk in birds medicated for 4, 5, or 6 wk if infected at 18 d of age. Immunity did not develop in those birds medicated for 6 wk when infected at 35 d.