Interactive effects of sodium zeolite A (Ethacal) and monensin in uninfected and Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks.
An experiment was conducted with 5- to 18-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks to evaluate the interaction of sodium zeolite A (NZA) and monensin in uninfected and in coccidiosis-infected chicks. Sodium zeolite A (0 and .75%) or monensin (0 and 121 ppm), or both, were fed to uninfected chicks or to chicks infected with 4 x 10(5) sporulated, Eimeria acervulina oocysts, resulting in a 2-by-2-by-2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Coccidial infection reduced (P less than .01) weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, percentage of bone ash and of bone calcium; but the infection increased (P less than .05) bone Zn percentage. Monensin alleviated (or at least partially so) the adverse effects of the coccidial infection on weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage of bone ash (coccidiosis by monensin, P less than .01). In addition, monensin increased the bone-calcium (P less than .06) and zinc content (P less than .02) in uninfected chicks and in those infected with coccidiosis. Sodium zeolite A tended to reduce feed intake by coccidiosis-infected chicks (coccidiosis by NZA, P less than .07), but increased (P less than .01) the bone zinc and decreased (P less than .01) serum inorganic phosphorus in uninfected chicks and in those infected with coccidiosis.
Ward
T L
TL
Department of Animal Science, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803.
Watkins
K L
KL
Southern
L L
LL
D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D007476:Ionophores / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008985:Monensin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D017641:Zeolites
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D007476:Ionophores; D017641:Zeolites; D008985:Monensin