February 6, 2014
Zoetis introduces Rotecc™ Coccidiosis management initiative to optimise poultry health
On January 28, Zoetis introduced Rotecc™ Coccidiosis Management, a new, science-based initiative to help poultry producers worldwide develop more strategic, cost-effective and sustainable programmes for battling the disease.
Coccidiosis is a common intestinal disease of poultry that is caused by seven different species of protozoan parasites from the genus Eimeria. It is widely accepted that eradication of coccidia from the poultry house environment is difficult if not impossible. Controlling the parasites is therefore standard practice on all poultry operations.
"With Rotecc, we're drawing on decades of published research, field and pen trials and our own experience managing coccidiosis in more than 60 countries to help close that gap. We are doing this not just with our own products but with all field-demonstrated anticoccidial tools available in the animal health industry," LaVorgna added.
Rotecc begins with a consultation by a Zoetis representative, who reviews a poultry operation's past and current programmes, necropsy data and results from anticoccidial sensitivity testing, as well as seasonal preferences for product usage, production goals and management practices. Other variables such as feed costs and meat prices also are considered.
Rotecc is built on best practices widely accepted by the poultry science community for coccidiosis management. Specifically, this includes not using the same in-feed anticoccidial for too long, rotating among products from different classes, resting each product and using a synthetic anticoccidial once yearly to clean up lingering coccidia and help reduce infection pressure.
Don Waldrip, senior technical services veterinarian at Zoetis said poultry producers would benefit from thinking 24 months ahead when developing their management programmes.
Vaccination is also part of the Rotecc strategy. It gives in-feed anticoccidials a rest and seeds poultry houses with coccidia that are still sensitive to the in-feed products, which restores their efficacy, Waldrip explained.
To support Rotecc, Zoetis is developing several digital tools to help producers and veterinarians tailor a long-term programme to suit their individual needs.
Greg Mathis, president and owner of Southern Poultry Research, Athens, Georgia, and a globally recognized expert on coccidiosis, expressed enthusiasm for the Rotecc initiative. He urged producers to "rotate smarter" and learn the differences between anticoccidials.
