Effect of animal feed grade sodium bisulfate supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and vitamin D status of broilers subjected to a coccidiosis vaccine challenge

Abstract

SUMMARY This study analyzed the effect of sodium bisulfate (SBS) supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology, and vitamin D3 status of broilers subjected to a 2X dose coccidiosis vaccine. Coccidiosis causes detrimental effects to poultry health and substantial economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. At day of placement, 800 one-day-old male Cobb500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a vaccinated or not vaccinated group for each of the two dietary treatments, control or SBS. Broilers were placed in floor pens for a 21-day trial period. SBS was supplemented at 0.4% at the expense of sodium chloride. Replicates were arranged in a completely randomized block design with twenty-five broilers per replicate and eight replicates per treatment, a 2\u202f×\u202f2 factorial arrangement. Body weights (BW), feed consumption (FC), and mortality-corrected feed conversion (FCR) were calculated at day 7, 14, and 21. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3), villi and crypt measurements from small intestine, and tibia ash (TBA) were measured on day 10, and 21 along with lesion scores. Lesion scores were significantly higher (P