Effect of coccidiosis on pigmentation in broilers

Synopsis

Broiler chicks were fed on a high energy, commercial‐type ration with 20 g oxycarotenoids/ton¹ for 5 weeks. They were then transferred to two finisher rations: one with 20 g oxycarotenoids from the ingredients plus 3 g canthaxanthin/ton; the other containing 26 g oxycarotenoids/ton derived solely from the ingredients. Three replicated groups fed on each finisher ration were inoculated daily for 5 d with either 6000 sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, 30,000 sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina or no coccidial oocysts. The resultant mild infections caused reduced growth and impaired food conversion irrespective of the ration fed. Pigmentation, based on shank visual scores, plasma and toe‐web total carotenoid concentrations, was adversely affected in all infected groups. Groups fed canthaxanthin had higher visual scores than comparable groups not so supplemented; however, the presence of coccidiosis depressed flesh pigmentation proportionately in both groups judged by several pigmentation parameters. E. acervulina infection was as deleterious to the broiler as E. maxima, based on these criteria.