COCCI Views

Blending nutrition into coccidiosis management - Stephen P. Collins Vice President, Worldwide Poultry Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation.

Stephen P. Collins
Vice President, Worldwide Poultry Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation

A few years ago, when we started CocciForum magazine, we didn't realize how quickly nutrition would become part of our editorial planning. This latest issue is a good example of that trend.

On the cover, for instance, you'll see a veterinarian and feed mill worker in Spain examining a random sample of feed before it's shipped to a broiler farm. And on page 6, you'll find a new feature we're introducing called Nutrition Notebook, where leading specialists in the field will share their latest ideas for maximizing performance. In this issue, even our Technically Speaking column "one normally reserves for health topics "has a nutrition angle.

Why the heavy editorial emphasis on nutrition?

Two reasons.

First, our readers have been requesting it via CocciForum reply cards or through direct communication with the editor. They recognize that our magazine's focus is coccidiosis, but they've also learned that nutrition can play a big role in successful and profitable control programs. They want to learn even more.

Second, over the years most mainstream poultry companies have turned to vaccination for at least a part of their coccidiosis-management program. In the US, for example, seven of the top 10 broiler companies have taken this route. Similar trends are being seen in other major poultry markets in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Initially, most of these companies switched to coccidiosis vaccination to "break up the cycle" of traditional in-feed anticoccidials, many of which were losing effectiveness after continuous use. Others saw vaccination as a good way to meet growing and regulatory demand to use fewer drugs in animal feeds.

Today, poultry companies like AVILESA (page 2) are experiencing even more benefits from coccidiosis vaccination. For example, they've learned that it allows them to be more flexible with their marketing. In addition, they've discovered that feed programs can be more profitable if they don't have to work around prescribed treatment regimens and withdrawal times associated with traditional in-feed anticoccidials. In other words, broiler feed programs can be adjusted to meet the needs of the birds, not the requirements of the drug.

Nutrition and poultry health specialists are also teaming up to develop innovative programs such as IDEA, which provides a roadmap for maximizing the performance and profitability or broilers (see articles beginning on pages 6 and 17).

As the recognized leader in coccidiosis management and an ally of the world poultry industry for nearly a century, this publication's sponsor, Schering-Plough Animal Health, feels an obligation to "surround" coccidiosis management and bring you all sides of this rapidly evolving story. Nutrition is one good example. In future issues, we'll continue to report on even more developments in technology that will help you manage this costly, prevalent disease.

Our readers tell us they learn a lot from our magazine - and for that we're grateful. We also learn a lot from our customers and other experts in the industry. It is our privilege to share their ideas with you in CocciForum.

Source: CocciForum Issue No.9, Schering-Plough Animal Health.