PSVI-17 The organic feed additive Calica+ improves growth performance and shows anticoccidial effects in broilers

Abstract

Abstract Development of natural alternatives to drugs is necessary for the poultry industry not only for organic production, but also for limiting drug resistance and for complying with upcoming regulations. Two pen trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of Calica+, an activated vegetal oil from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), on broiler performance and on coccidiosis in different conditions. The first trial was conducted in Eimeria vaccination conditions with commercial Coccivac-B52. The second one was realized in Eimeria challenge conditions, induced by an oral administration of 200,000 sporulated oocysts of mixed Eimeria species harvested from field isolates. In Eimeria vaccination conditions trial, Calica+ improved average daily gain (ADG) (+4.5%, P < 0.05) during the overall growing period and decreased levels of oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) (−44.1%, P < 0.05), at Eimeria excretion peak (days 17–20), compared to untreated broilers. However, no significant effect of Calica+ on Eimeria intestinal lesions was observed. Overall ADG in Calica+-treated birds was not significantly different compared to nicarbazin-monensin anticoccidial medication (P = 0.8362) but showed higher feed conversion ratio (FCR; +6.0%, P < 0.05). In Eimeria challenge conditions trial, Calica+ feeding treatment improved ADG after infection, during the period from d20 to d36 of age (+4.4%, P < 0.05) compared to untreated birds. Compared with nicarbazin-monensin medication, Calica+-treated birds showed higher FCR (+3.5%, P < 0.05), but comparable ADG (P = 0.3145). Interestingly, birds fed the treatment with Calica+ showed a trend of increased plasmatic levels of IL-1ß compared to untreated broilers (+25.6%, P = 0.0676), suggesting an immune activation as a potential mechanism of action for Calica+. In summary, Calica+ showed beneficial growth performance and anticoccidial effects in these two different trial conditions. This feed additive could be involved in a strategy to reduce the use of anticoccidial medication in broiler production.