STRATEGY ▶▶▶
Coccidiostats: Antibiotic or feed additive?
BY BERRIE KLEIN SWORMINK T
he introduction of the first ionophore coccidiostat (monensin) in the 1970’s was an important break- through in the fight against coccidiosis. Before that, coccidiosis outbreaks were frequent and the disease
was more difficult to treat and to prevent, because only coc- cidiostats that did not belong to the ionophores were availa- ble. They were far less effective because the parasite was able to rapidly build up resistance against them. Broiler farmers in the European Union make extensive use of these ionophore coccidiostats in poultry feed these days, be- cause they prevent health problems caused by the sin- gle-celled Eimeria parasite. At this moment, the European Union classifies ionophore coccidiostats as feed additives. For years, this has been the subject of a recurring intense debate.
The availability and the continuous preventive use of coccidiostats have contributed to a high level of animal health and welfare in poultry production over the past decennia. Sometimes, there is debate over what coccidiostats actually are: feed additives or antibiotics. For the moment, coccidiostats seem to remain on the European Union’s list of feed additives.
Some parties think it is better to label coccidiostats as antibi- otics, while others think they should remain available as feed additives. There is a number of reasons why the European Union chose the coccidiostats’ reclassification as feed additives. Coccidiosis is an endemic disease – the parasite is universally present
At this stage the European Union is on a course to keep coccidio- stats as a feed additive.
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 2, 2019 25
PHOTO: FABIAN BROCKÖTTER
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