Evaluation of sodium bisulfate on performance parameters of turkeys that received a double-dose of a coccidia vaccine

Authors: Cupo, Katherine; MEHDIPOUR, ZOHREH - North Carolina State University; FUDGE, CATHERINE - University Of Georgia; JONES, KELLI - Ceva Animal Health; BECKSTEAD, ROBERT - Ceva Animal Health; JESPERSEN, JULIANNA - Jones-Hamilton Co; SUAREZ, JUAN - Jones-Hamilton Co; CHEN, CHONGXIAO - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2025
Publication Date: 8/29/2025
Citation: Cupo, K.L., Mehdipour, Z., Fudge, C., Jones, K., Beckstead, R.B., Jespersen, J.C., Suarez, J.C., Chen, C. 2025. Evaluation of sodium bisulfate on performance parameters of turkeys that received a double-dose of a coccidia vaccine. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 34(4). Article e100592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2025.100592.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2025.100592

Interpretive Summary: Coccidia are highly pathogenic intestinal parasites causing disease in chickens and turkeys, resulting in reduced weight gain, thereby limiting meat/egg production efficiency. Live Coccidia vaccines administered to young birds reduce disease severity while still causing intestinal damage that reduces weight gain. To limit this reduction in weight gain, we administered sodium bisulfate, a feed additive that improves gut health, to chickens following Coccidia vaccination. We observed improved weight gain in vaccinated birds given the feed additive compared to vaccinated birds that were not given the feed additive. The results of this study will benefit poultry farmers by providing a method for improving production efficiency in flocks immunized with Coccidia vaccine.

Technical Abstract: Commercial turkeys are commonly exposed to coccidia during rearing, and feed additives are being investigated to help mitigate losses associated with infection. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of sodium bisulfate (SBS) on growth performance of turkeys given a 2 × dose of coccidia vaccine. A 2 × 3 factorial design was implemented with a 2 × coccidia vaccine (IMMUCOX®T) gavaged at d 0 (challenged or non-challenged) and dietary supplementation of 0 % (control), 0.2 %, or 0.4 % feed-grade SBS. Oocyst shedding was evaluated on d 7 and 14 to confirm parasite cycling and vaccine viability. Body weight (BW), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were evaluated at d 0, 35, and 56. Body weight uniformity was evaluated at d 56, and livability ( %) was evaluated for the overall trial. The results indicated that challenged birds had reduced growth performance at d 35 but recovered similarly to the non-challenged groups by d 56. Challenged birds with 0.4 % SBS achieved higher BW than other challenged treatments and were numerically similar to non-challenged treatments at d 35. Birds provided SBS had improved FCR overall compared with birds given control diet, regardless of challenge status. Livability (%) and BW uniformity were similar between all treatments at d 56. Oocyst shedding in challenged treatments was similar on d 7 and numerically lower in challenged treatments provided SBS treatments on d 14. These results collectively indicate that the dietary inclusion of up to 0.4 % SBS for turkeys can improve growth performance, specifically FCR, regardless of coccidia challenge status.