Coccidiosis In Chickens & Calves

MANAGEMENT & TREATMENT

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic organisms called Eimeria, which infect the intestinal lining of animals such as chickens and calves. The parasites damage the gut, leading to symptoms like diarrhea (often bloody in chickens or dark in calves), poor appetite, weight loss, and, in severe cases, death. It spreads through ingestion of infective oocysts found in contaminated feed, water, or bedding. Young or stressed animals are most at risk, making hygiene, early detection, and proper treatment essential for control.

Coccidiosis in Chickens

What it is

• Caused by Eimeria species specific to poultry, leading to gastrointestinal damage and potentially bloody diarrhea, poor growth, and mortality in young chicks.
• Infection happens when sporulated oocysts are ingested from litter, feeders, or water.

Prevention & Management

Maintain high biosecurity and hygiene: regularly clean and dry housing, move feeders and waterers, avoid accumulation of soiled litter.

Vaccination at hatchery or use of medicated starter feeds for chicks helps build immunity. (Norco Chick Starter)

Rotate or combine anticoccidial agents (ionophores and chemical classes) to prevent resistance; ionophores may be used up to 6 months, chemicals up to 3 months before rotating.

Treatment

Keystat® Solution (International Animal Health Products)

Keystat Coccidiostat Solution™, often simply called Keystat®, is a broad-spectrum water‑additive used to treat and control coccidiosis in poultry, particularly broilers. It combines Amprolium (216 g/L) and Ethopabate (14 g/L) for synergistic efficacy against multiple Eimeria species—especially E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, and E. brunetti.

Dosage for outbreaks:

• Standard therapy: 1 L per 900 L of drinking water for 5–7 days,
• Mild outbreaks: 500 mL per 900 L for 5–7 days,
• Follow‑up: 250 mL per 900 L for 5–7 days.

Withholding periods: Meat: nil; not for use in birds producing eggs or intended to produce eggs for human consumption.

Keystat® is registered and available in 1 L and 5 L pack sizes from Norco AgriSolutions.

Use In Practice

Administer only if clinical coccidiosis is diagnosed (via faecal oocyst counts or flock history). Provide only medicated water during the full treatment period. Maintain hygiene and biosecurity before and after treatment to prevent reinfection.

Coccidiosis in Calves (Bovine)

What it is

Caused by Eimeria bovis and E. zuernii; most severe in calves aged 3 weeks to 6 months, especially under stress (weaning, poor nutrition, dirty yards, damp conditions). Signs include dark watery diarrhea (“black scours”), straining, dehydration, anaemia, weight loss, mortality possible in severe cases.

Prevention & Management

• Avoid stress at weaning: low‑stress handling, balanced nutrition, manage worm burdens, good trace mineral status.
• Environmental hygiene: raise feed and water troughs, rotate paddocks, avoid dung build‑up near stations.
• Quarantine new stock to prevent introducing high parasite load.

Treatment

Baycox® Coccidiocide (Calves)

Baycox™ Coccidiocide for Piglets and Cattle contains Toltrazuril (50 g/L) and serves as a single‑dose oral treatment that kills all intracellular life stages of coccidia while permitting animals to develop natural immunity.

• Calf dose: 3 mL per 10 kg bodyweight, given orally via an applicator.
  • Preventative use: treat calves approximately 1 week before expected onset of clinical signs, particularly around weaning.
  • Therapeutic use: treat calves immediately upon diagnosis of clinical coccidiosis.
• Efficacy: suppresses oocyst shedding for up to 42 days and is effective regardless of severity of infection.
• Withholding periods:
  • Meat: 56 days before slaughter.
  • Export Slaughter Interval (ESI) for cattle: 75 days.
  • Milk: Not to be used in lactating or pregnant cows if milk enters human food chain.

Confirm diagnosis via faecal oocyst count or veterinary lab before administering Baycox®. Treat affected and at-risk calves, especially if other group members may harbor subclinical infection. Follow label directions strictly regarding dosage and withholding times.

Practical Guidelines

Chickens

1. Begin life on vaccinated stock or medicated starter feed for chicks.

2. Maintain dry, clean housing; regularly rotate feeders, elevate drinkers, manage litter.

3. Monitor flock and at first sign of clinical illness, treat promptly with Keystat® in drinking water for 3–5 days.

4. For severe outbreaks, consider toltrazuril under vet guidance.

5. Rotate anticoccidial compounds to prevent future resistance.

Calves

1. Maintain balanced nutrition, mineral status, hydration, and reduce stressors around weaning.

2. Ensure clean and dry bedding or yards, raise feeders, avoid contamination from droppings.

3. Treat affected and at-risk calves with Baycox®.

4. For clinical cases under veterinary supervision, treat with sulphonamide medications.

Important Notes

Consult a veterinarian before starting any medication: both toltrazuril and sulphonamides carry withholding requirements for meat or eggs and must be used exactly as labelled.

Focus on integrated control—good nutrition, hygiene, and stress reduction are often the first and best line.

Monitoring and response are key: diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary drug use and to tailor treatment effectively.