Five experiments were conducted to test the anticoccidial efficacy of
salinomycin (AHR-3096C, A. H. Robins) at 66 ppm and its compatibility with
roxarsone (50 ppm) under floor pen conditions
Monensin (100, 121 ppm),
lasalocid (75, 125 ppm), and shuttle programs of
salinomycin-
monensin (66/100 ppm) or
monensin-
salinomycin (100/66 ppm) were included for comparison.
Coccidiosis exposure was provided by using the infected seeder bird technique.
Salinomycin reduced the lesion scores significantly and improved the
body weight and feed conversion in all the trials as compared to unmedicated groups. All three
ionophores effectively reduced the lesion scores. Birds treated with
salinomycin-
monensin shuttle programs had lesion scores,
body weight, and feed conversion that were not significantly different from the
salinomycin treated birds, suggesting that this shuttle program could be used satisfactorily for control of
coccidiosis. Lesion scores,
body weight, and feed conversion data of the 4th and 5th trials suggested that the anticoccidial activity of
salinomycin and
roxarsone are additive. There was evidence of compensatory growth after withdrawal of
salinomycin and
monensin but not with
lasalocid.