GROWOUT PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING VACCINATION WITH INOVOCOX™ AS COMPARED TO SALINOMYCIN
A. Martin, V. W. Doelling, L. M. Charniga, G. F. Mathis2, C.
Heggen-Peay, and R. M. Poston
1Embrex Inc., P. O. Box 13989, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
2Southern Poultry Research, Athens, GA 30607
amartin@embrex.com
Floor pen studies were conducted
to assess the performance of broilers after in ovo vaccination with Inovocox™,
a live oocyst vaccine containing Eimeria acervulina, E. tenella, and two strains
of E. maxima. Broiler eggs were vaccinated with Inovocox in ovo or sham injected
with diluent. Chicks were vent sexed and 25 males and 25 females placed in floor
pens at 0.75 sq. ft. per bird. Vaccinated chicks were fed a diet without
anticoccidials throughout the study. Non-vaccinated (sham injected) control
chicks were fed the identical diet containing 66 ppm salinomycin through 35 days
of age, and non-medicated finisher diet thereafter. In one study chicks were
placed on clean litter, in the other on built up litter. Body weight and
adjusted feed conversion were compared at 21, 35, 42, and 49 days of age. On
clean litter at 49 days of age, salinomycin bird weights averaged 2.396 kg,
compared with 2.403 kg for the vaccinated birds. Feed conversion was equivalent
at all ages. On built up litter at 49 days of age, salinomycin birds weighed
2.241 kg, compared to 2.252 kg for the vaccinated birds. Again there was no
difference in feed conversion at any age tested. Birds vaccinated with Inovocox
demonstrated equivalent performance to birds fed salinomycin.