A breakthrough in poultry health management, an automated gel-beadlet system for vaccinating chicks, has shown significant potential in ensuring uniform coverage against coccidiosis, a common parasitic disease in poultry. This novel approach was researched by Dr. Matthew Jones and his team at the Southern Poultry Research Group, who conducted comprehensive tests to evaluate its effectiveness.
Innovative Gel-Beadlet Technology
The gel-beadlet technology is designed to ensure that a soft gel adheres to the chicks’ down and is uniformly ingested as the birds preen. Unlike traditional water-based formulations, these beadlets do not lower the chicks’ body temperature, a significant advantage in maintaining their overall health.
Dr. Jones emphasized the importance of uniform vaccine application and uptake in coccidiosis control programs. “Uniform application is crucial because we want the birds to be adequately exposed to the vaccine, develop immunity, and be protected over time,” he explained at the 2024 International Poultry Scientific Forum.
Methodology of the Study
The study involved vaccinating individual Ross broiler chicks and groups in pens using a live coccidiosis vaccine delivered through three different methods: the new gel-beadlet system, conventional coarse-spray application, and oral gavage. The research team followed the vaccine manufacturer’s guidelines for volumes: 1.0 gram per chick for the gel beadlets, 0.21 mL per chick for the spray vaccination, and 0.1 mL per chick for oral gavage.
To measure the effectiveness of each method, the researchers compared the number of coccidia oocysts per gram of excreta, recording the counts from day 5 to day 10 of the study. Additionally, in a floor-pen experiment, 25 birds were vaccinated using the three methods and placed on fresh pine shavings. The researchers then sampled the birds’ duodenum, jejunum, and ceca on days 14, 21, and 28 to conduct histological examinations and evaluate vaccination progress.
Results of the Study
The findings were promising. All six individual birds vaccinated with the gel-beadlet method passed Eimeria oocysts throughout the study. In comparison, only four out of six birds in the orally gavaged group and three out of six in the spray-vaccinated group passed Eimeria oocysts.
A significant difference was noted on day 8, with the gel-beadlet group showing higher numbers of E. tenella compared to the other groups. In the pen study, histological analysis revealed that birds vaccinated with the gel-beadlet method had lower cumulative coccidia damage on days 14, 21, and 28 than those vaccinated by the other methods.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Dr. Jones concluded that the pilot study indicated the success of the automated gel-application system in administering the commercial coccidiosis vaccine. “The uniform uptick of the vaccine observed in the gel-beadlet group might explain the reduced coccidia damage in the histological samples collected at later stages,” he noted.
Despite the promising results, the research team recommended further studies with a larger number of replications to confirm the efficacy of this approach. They suggested that the gel-beadlet vaccination method should be used alongside other coccidiosis management tools, such as ionophores and chemical controls, to enhance overall poultry health management.
In summary, the novel gel-beadlet vaccination system represents a significant advancement in the fight against coccidiosis in poultry, offering a potentially more effective and uniform method of vaccine delivery.
