Abstract

Anticoccidial drug mode of utilization and their financial cost in Benin litter-based commercial layer system were investigated on 81 layer farms with a total of 120 poultry flocks consisting of 81 adult and 39 young bird flocks. The collected data include bird age category, coccidiosis control program, the anticoccidial molecules, theirs financial prices and their mode of administration. Most of the farmers adopted the preventive mode of coccidiosis control. Six anticoccidial molecules were identified as regularly used by farmers to control coccidiosis, administrated through drinking water. Amprolium is the most prevalent anticoccidial molecule used for young birds (84.6%), followed in a very less extent by sulfadimidine (15.3%) which is the most used anticoccidial molecule in adult birds (74% of the flocks). The entire sulfa-based drugs in use in the production system accounted for 88.8%. Poultry producers in Benin spend 137 FCFA or 0.30 $ per layer chicken in litter-based system to control coccidiosis with the use of anticoccidial drug during the bird lifespan.               

Key words: Coccidiosis, sulfa-based drugs, amprolium, sulfadimidine, prevention.