Coccidiostatic action of monensin fed to lambs: body weight gains and feed conversion efficacy

Thirty crossbred ewe lambs weighing an average of 37.3 kg were allotted to 6 groups of 5 lambs each so that group weights were nearly equal. Lambs were fed dehydrated alfalfa pellets, initially at 1.14 kg/day and subsequently increased after experimental day 15 and 42. Each lamb was artificially infected with 18,000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were given monensin in the form of medicated alfalfa pellets at dose levels of 5, 10, 20, and 30 g/metric ton, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 were infected controls (infected, nonmedicated). Lambs in groups 5 and 6 developed severe clinical coccidiosis, having diarrhea and losing weight rapidly. Group 1 lambs did not have diarrhea, but the lambs did not gain well. All other medicated lambs gained weight during the experimental period of 84 days. Feed conversion was good in medicated groups 2, 3, and 4 and was poor in control groups 5 and 6. Statistically significant differences in feed conversion and body weight gains (5 and 1% level of confidence) were observed between control and medicated groups.