Effect of Polygain™ Supplementation on Growth Performance, Lesion Severity, and Oocyst Shedding in Eimeria-Challenged Broiler Chickens

TL;DR

A natural supplement made from sugarcane, called Polygain™, helps chickens recover from a parasitic gut disease, reducing lesions and parasite levels without affecting growth.

Contribution

Polygain™ is shown to be a safe and effective natural alternative to synthetic drugs for managing coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Findings

Polygain™ reduced intestinal lesions and parasite shedding in Eimeria-infected chickens.

The highest dose of Polygain™ led to complete remission of lesions in the caecum.

Polygain™ maintained bird growth performance while providing protective effects against coccidiosis.

Abstract

Coccidiosis is a serious intestinal disease in chickens caused by Eimeria parasites that can negatively impact animal welfare and reduce poultry production efficiency. This study tested the effectiveness of Polygain™, a natural supplement made from sugarcane, in helping broiler chickens recover from a multiple Eimeria spp. infection. Birds were divided into groups that either received no treatment, a standard anticoccidial drug, or Polygain™ at three different doses. Their growth, gut health, and coccidia shedding levels were measured. The results showed that birds fed Polygain™ had better survival, lower parasite counts, and fewer intestinal injuries compared to untreated birds. The highest dose of Polygain™ even resulted in total remission of the lesion score in the caecum. Polygain™ proved to be a safe, sustainable, and promising alternative in poultry farming systems that aim to reduce reliance on synthetic drugs while maintaining bird health and performance.

Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria spp., is a major economic burden in poultry production, prompting growing interest in natural alternatives to synthetic anticoccidials. This study evaluated the use of Polygain™, a sugarcane-derived polyphenol-rich feed material, as a natural anticoccidial in broiler chickens experimentally challenged with Eimeria tenella, E. maxima, and E. acervulina. A total of 144 Ross 308 chicks were allocated to six groups: uninfected–untreated control, infected–untreated control, infected plus nicarbazin + narasin, and three Polygain™ treatment groups (250, 500, and 1000 ppm). Birds were orally challenged with mixed oocysts on day 14. Parameters assessed included body weight gain (BWG), lesion scores (LS), oocyst per gram (OPG), and calculated indices such as relative oocyst production (ROP), reduction in lesion score (RLS), percent optimum anticoccidial activity (POAA), and anticoccidial index (ACI). Polygain™ reduced intestinal lesions (p < 0.05), particularly in the caecum, with complete lesion resolution observed at 1000 ppm by 21 days post-infection. Polygain™ ACI values (143–146) were limited in comparison to nicarbazin + narasin treatment (ACI 160). These findings demonstrate that Polygain™ supplementation confers measurable protective dose related effects against coccidiosis without impairing growth performance, supporting its potential as a natural feed material for integrated coccidiosis management.

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