Evaluation of animal feed grade sodium bisulfate supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and vitamin D status of broilers challenged with coccidiosis vaccine

This study analyzed the effect of sodium bisulfate (SBS) supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology, and vitamin D-3 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 2 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 25 broilers per replicate and 8 replicates per treatment, a 2 x 2 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-D-3), 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 < 0.05) for vaccinated groups compared to not vaccinated groups, suggestive of a good vaccine challenge. At day 21 there was a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in 25-OH-D-3 serum concentration, BW, FCR, and 10 d TBA from SBS compared to Control. In conclusion, the data suggest that SBS can positively impact cumulative FCR, 25-OH-D-3 serum concentration, and TBA in broilers.