La combinación salinomicina/nicarbazina como anticoccidial en pollos de engorde

The efficacy in the control of coccidiosis of the anticoccidial combination of salinomycin / nicarbazin, supplied in the feed at a dose of 40 ppm, was evaluated through changes in productive parameters in broilers challenged experimentally with local strains of coccidia and raised up to 42 days of age. Broilers of the Cobb Vantress 500 line (n=450) were distributed into three experimental groups with 6 repetitions of 25 birds each. G1: chicks not challenged and treated with the anticoccidial combination, G2: chicks challenged and treated with the anticoccidial combination, and G3: chicks challenged and untreated. Body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion index, European productive efficiency index and the viability were determined. Broilers of groups G2 and G3 were challenged at 14 days with 1 ml of coccidia inoculum containing sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina (105), E. maxima (3x102) and E. tenella (104). Results showed body weight: 2650.4, 2431.6 and 2111.6 g; accumulated weight gain: 2604.1, 2384.0 and 2063.8 g; feed conversion: 1.53, 1.61 and 1.65; and productive efficiency index: 408.67, 355.94 and 282.00 for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. All values showed significant differences (p<0.05). A lower but not significative percentage of viability was observed in G3 (median 94%) as compared to G1 and G2 (median 100%). It is concluded that the anticoccidial combination (salinomycin / nicarbazine) was effective in the control of coccidiosis as better productive parameters were obtained in the treated groups.