ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2025 67 The poultry industry stands at a turning point where disease control meets sustainability. As producers strive to maintain performance without relying solely on synthetic drugs, the search for validated natural solutions has gained momentum. By integrating scientific precision with nature’s diversity, science-validated natural feed innovations are redefining how intestinal health and productivity can coexist in modern poultry farming. Coccidiosis may not always make headlines, but in poultry houses worldwide it quietly erodes productivity every single day. This intestinal disease, caused by resilient Eimeria parasites, costs the industry billions of dollars annually through impaired growth, poor feed efficiency, and higher mortality. For producers, the challenge is not only the disease itself but also the growing limitations of conventional tools— drug resistance, vaccine costs, and consumer demand for residue-free meat. The question is no longer whether coccidiosis matters. It is how the industry can manage it smarter. And here, natural innovation guided by science is emerging as a promising answer. 1. COCCIDIOSIS: THE PERSISTENT THREAT Coccidiosis remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges in global poultry production. Caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, the disease damages the intestinal lining, reduces feed efficiency, and increases mortality, leading to economic losses estimated at more than USD 10 billion annually—equivalent to approximately USD 0.17 per bird produced (Blake et al., 2020). Coccidial parasites are highly host-specific. In poultry, nine Eimeria species are recognized, each with distinct intestinal localization and varying levels of pathogenicity. Some, like E. acervulina and E. mitis, tend to cause milder lesions in the upper intestine, while E. maxima and E. necatrix induce more severe damage in the mid-intestine. E. tenella is considered the most pathogenic, attacking the ceca and often leading to hemorrhage and higher mortality (Shirley et al., 2005). Because there is no cross-protective immunity among species, birds are vulnerable to multiple infections within the same production cycle. Transmission occurs when birds ingest sporulated oocysts from contaminated litter, feed, or water. Once ingested, these oocysts release sporozoites that invade the intestinal epithelium, multiply within cells, and eventually release millions of new oocysts. Because sporulated oocysts can persist in the environment for over a year, reinfection is a constant risk (Burrell, 2020). NATURAL INNOVATION FOR SMARTER COCCIDIOSIS CONTROL Dr. Kyu-Yeol Son Veterinarian and Pathologist CJ BIO
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