Anticoccidials are included in feeds to prevent coccidial infections.

Coccidiosis is a dreaded disease of advanced poultry production. It is caused by intestinal protozoan parasites of Eimeria genus. There are seven species of Eimeria that cause clinical diseases in chicken and immunity to any one species does not protect birds against other species. Caecal and intestinal coccidiosis pose a major threat to intensive poultry production. The parasite is ubiquitous because it can survive for long periods in infected birds and the environment.

Clinical coccidiosis causes unthriftiness, poor feed conversion, reduced weight gain, drop in egg production and has great economic importance in poultry industry. Sub-clinical coccidiosis is a warning sign of worse things to follow and is, by itself, a major cause of economic losses in poultry production.

To prevent coccidiosis, broilers are given anti coccidials in their feed continuously from day one to close to slaughter. There is a potential challenge of anticoccidial resistance. Hence optimal control of coccidiosis during the critical phase of broiler crop can be ensured by proper selection of anticoccidials, which should include products from different chemical/ionophore groups. Since Eimeria can develop resistance, to cunter which, strategic and appropriate use of available anticoccidial product is advised and this can be achieved by appropriate shuttle/rotation programme.