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Breakthrough in poultry farming: natural solution for coccidiosis as effective as coccidiostat medications
Coccidiosis is a well-known challenge in poultry farming. Until now, it has mainly been controlled using coccidiostats, a preventive additive mixed into feed. But what if there was a way to manage this parasitic intestinal disease without medication? Stefan Verhoeven, Director of HyCare Poultry, teamed up with the R&D team at The Schippers Group to explore this question—and with success! "Everyone thought we couldn't manage without coccidiostats, but this proves the opposite," Stefan says proudly.
Why look for an alternative?
Coccidiosis damages the intestines of chickens, leading to slower growth and poor feed conversion. "To prevent this, almost all broiler farms in the Netherlands use coccidiostats in the feed," Stefan explains. "But this has its downsides. Technically, it is an antibiotic, and the preventive use of medication is under increasing scrutiny. Moreover, not only parasites but even bacteria can develop resistance due to the use of coccidiostats.
Time for action.
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Testing, testing, and more testing
The R&D team at The Schippers Group took a thorough approach. "We started in our demo farm in Dalem. No coccidiostats, no vaccinations, just our own products like MS TopFoam and DryCare," says Stefan. "That worked well to control coccidiosis, but we quickly encountered other challenges, such as issues with clostridium and dysbacteriosis. While coccidiosis was the main concern, we also wanted to address these other problems."
"To further improve, we engaged Schothorst Feed Research for a literature study. Based on these insights, we tested various mixtures ourselves for a new product. Step by step, we experimented with the best combinations in small groups until we found a formula that truly worked."
Does it work on a large scale?
Time for the ultimate test: a barn with 30,000 chickens, divided into two groups. One half received feed with coccidiostatics, while the other half was given the new product in their drinking water and feed without coccidiostatics.
The result? "Just as good as coccidiostatics!" says Stefan enthusiastically. "That's a major breakthrough."
And there was another surprise: lower mortality. "We saw 0.3% less mortality in the group without coccidiostatics. Less death in the first few days and fewer lame chickens at later stages. The exact cause needs further investigation, but the overall picture is clear: this is a healthier approach."
Additionally, the chicks performed just as well in terms of growth and feed conversion as the group with coccidiostatics, which is another positive result.
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How can you apply this in practice?
The natural product should be added to the drinking water from the age of two weeks and given for 14 days, after which it is switched to MS GoldFeed Welfare (an organic acid). This can be done manually or via a dosing pump.
But it's about more than just an additive in the drinking water. “Good barn hygiene and smart downtime management are just as important,” says Stefan. “By reducing infection pressure, this new solution becomes even more effective. That’s why we are developing a complete concept to help poultry farmers keep coccidiosis under control in a sustainable way.”
When will it be on the market?
At the Dalem trial farm, we saw many positive results: lower mortality, no medication use, performance equal to coccidiostatics, and no additional costs. A promising outcome! “For poultry farmers who want to maintain their profitability while operating responsibly, this is a smart move,” says Stefan.
By the end of 2025, the product will be available on the market. In the meantime, we are expanding testing on multiple farms to gain a complete picture and ensure this approach works everywhere.
- Want to tackle coccidiosis without medication?
- Interested in testing this solution on your farm?
- Be among the first to benefit from this new approach?
Sign up now! Contact Stefan Verhoeven directly to explore the possibilities.
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