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.
Veterinarian and Pathologist
CJ BIO
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).
While severe outbreaks can lead to mortality, even subclinical infections reduce nutrient absorption, slow growth, and impair feed conversion. They also predispose birds to secondary conditions such as necrotic enteritis (Blake et al., 2020). This economic burden extends across the poultry value chain—from farmers to processors—making effective prevention a priority (Figure 1 and 2).
2. LIMITS OF DRUGS AND VACCINES
Coccidiosis management has traditionally relied on four approaches: farm management, synthetic drugs, vaccines, and natural products. Each has its merits but also significant limitations.
• Farm management: Litter replacement and disinfection reduce contamination but cannot fully eliminate resilient oocysts.
• Synthetic drugs: Once reliable, these now face widespread resistance and regulatory withdrawal constraints (Chapman, 2014).
• Vaccines: Effective in principle but costly, and require repeated reinfections to build protection, making them less practical for short-cycle broilers.
• Natural products: Attractive for their safety and residue-free profile, but historically inconsistent in performance when not scientifically validated.
The industry’s reliance on these approaches is no longer sufficient. A new generation of solutions is needed—both as natural alternatives to conventional drugs and as complementary tools that fit into existing management programs (Figure 3).
3. A NEXT-GENERATION NATURAL SOLUTION
CJ BIO launched a program to create a natural anticoccidial that balances efficacy with safety. Using its Application Platform, the team screened more than 600 plant-derived compounds through a stepwise process: initial in vitro evaluation, cell-based models, and animal trials.
Two compounds emerged as promising candidates. These were then optimized through Response Surface Methodology (RSM), a statistical tool that identifies ideal ratios and concentrations to ensure synergy and stability. The outcome was Coxield™, a feed additive that blends natural ingredients with scientific rigor—bridging the gap between traditional phytogenics and modern, validated solutions.
TRIPLE-STAGE SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
Laboratory studies indicate that Coxield™ supports coccidiosis management through three complementary biological activities:
1. Direct sporozoite viability reduction
Coxield’s natural compounds weakened parasite viability, inducing necrosis and structural damage at concentrations as low as 10 ppm.
2. Limiting attachment and penetration
In cell culture models, Coxield reduced parasite adhesion and penetration into intestinal epithelial cells by approximately 60% when evaluated at 7 ppm.
3. Restricting intracellular development
Coxield treatment curtailed intracellular asexual development, specifically reducing merozoite formation from invading sporozoites by about 66% at 7 ppm.
These three supportive activities work in concert, providing broad coverage across critical stages of the coccidial cycle. Rather than acting like a single-target chemical, Coxield™ offers a multifaceted, natural solution that helps reduce lesion severity and oocyst shedding while promoting intestinal health (Figure 4).
4. VALIDATED IN SCIENCE, PROVEN IN FARMS
Academic research confirmed Coxield™’s role in coccidiosis management. Challenge trials with virulent E. tenella strains showed lower lesion scores and reduced oocyst shedding in supplemented groups compared with standard controls such as salinomycin.
Product optimization using RSM further confirmed that the final formulation offered consistent performance. In vivo trials demonstrated reduced lesion scores (1.87 vs. 2.7 for salinomycin and 3.3 for challenge controls) and a 27% reduction in oocyst shedding.
Farm validation provided further evidence:
• In Korea, broiler farms experiencing productivity decline due to reduced diclazuril efficacy—linked to resistance—incorporated Coxield™ into feed programs. Over five flocks, the average Production Index improved from 343 to 380 after 32 days of supplementation, with clear signs of healthier intestinal conditions. This suggests Coxield™ can provide supportive benefits where conventional products face resistance challenges—functioning as a complementary solution rather than a direct replacement.
• In Indonesia, high-challenge trials with four Eimeria species showed that Coxield™ performed on par with synthetic drugs under conditions where resistance had reduced the efficacy of diclazuril, while also outperforming other natural products. Importantly, when Coxield™ was combined with diclazuril, the program delivered the best outcome, improving feed conversion ratio from 1.48 to 1.44 and generating an estimated additional profit of ~USD 5,600 per 200,000 birds. These findings highlight its dual role as both a natural alternative and a complementary partner for existing anticoccidials (Figure 5).
5. A SAFER, SMARTER WAY FORWARD
Coxield™ represents more than a product; it reflects a shift toward sustainable poultry production. Its residue-free profile and absence of withdrawal period align with consumer and regulatory expectations. Its validated supportive activities provide scientific credibility, and its compatibility with shuttle and rotation programs helps producers manage resistance risks over time.
By safeguarding intestinal health and supporting productivity without reliance on synthetic drugs, Coxield™ offers poultry producers a practical, science-based tool that contributes to profitability and sustainability. Importantly, Coxield™ can be positioned flexibly—either as a natural alternative to synthetic anticoccidials or as a complementary solution integrated into broader coccidiosis control programs.
Coccidiosis will remain a challenge for poultry worldwide. But as the industry faces rising resistance, regulatory changes, and consumer demand, the need for validated natural solutions has never been greater. Coxield™ shows how innovation from nature—when guided by rigorous science—can deliver dependable results for modern poultry production.
