Investigation of Betaine and Vaccine Efficacy for Coccidiosis Prevention in Broilers

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the anticoccidial effects of betaine and a vaccine compared to monensin sodium in experimentally induced coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Methods

600 day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five groups, each with four replicates of 30 birds. While the control group received a basal diet, two experimental groups received basal diet supplemented with either 100 mg/kg monensin sodium or 2.0 g/kg betaine. The remaining experimental groups received a commercial coccidiosis vaccine alone or in combination with betaine. All chickens were challenged with sporulated field-mixed Eimeria species at 20 days of age.

Results

Throughout the study, vaccinated birds showed superior performance in terms of body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other anticoccidial treatments (P < 0.05), followed by betaine, vaccine + betaine, and monensin treatments in descending order. While all anticoccidial regimens significantly reduced fecal oocyst output only at the beginning of the observation period, this effect diminished thereafter (P < 0.05). Supplementation with monensin and vaccination against coccidiosis significantly decreased small intestine weight compared to untreated controls (P < 0.01), with a numerical decrease observed in chicks fed betaine-supplemented diets and treated with the combination of betaine and vaccine.

Conclusion

Notably, there has been no prior study comparing betaine with monensin sodium and a coccidiosis vaccine. These findings suggest that dietary betaine supplementation and a commercial coccidiosis vaccine containing mixed Eimeria spp. may offer benefits in controlling coccidiosis, presenting viable, cost-effective, sustainable, and safe alternatives to conventional ionophore anticoccidials, with added benefits of no residue and reduced resistance hazards for both animal and human consumption.