The Influence of a Quillaja and Yucca Combination on Growth Performance and Lesion Scores of Broilers Administered Chemical Anticoccidials or a Live Coccidiosis Vaccine

Background and Objective: In the USA, consumer demand has led to the reduction in use of all antibiotics, including ionophores. The broiler industry, in turn, has relied upon coccidiosis vaccines and chemicals as the means of reducing the effects of coccidial infection. Because these products are limited by incomplete anticoccidial activity and/or inconsistent performance results, they are frequently supported by phytochemical products to improve their efficacy. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of a quillaja and yucca saponin combination (QY) on lesion scores, performance and mortality when broilers were fed 3 chemical programs or a coccidiosis vaccine in a disease challenged, floor pen environment. Materials and Methods: Using randomized complete block designs, 2 identical trials were conducted involving a total of 9,900 Ross 708 broilers. A non-medicated control, 3 commonly-used chemical programs (nicarbazin, nicarbazin: decoquinate and zoalene) and a coccidiosis vaccine were evaluated; these treatments were fed in the absence and presence of QY. Growth performance, coccidial lesion scores and total mortality were primary variables evaluated. Treatments were replicated 10 times in each test and all data were combined prior to statistical analysis. Results: During the first 28 days of testing, addition of QY improved growth performance, lesion scores and mortality of each anticoccidial program. In addition, pooled results across all treatments demonstrated that QY significantly improved final growth measurements and mortality. Conclusion: In the face of an intestinal disease challenge, QY improved coccidial lesion scores and mortality of 3 chemical programs and a coccidiosis vaccine. This reduction in coccidial exposure contributed to improved growth responses compared to all non-QY treatments.