A new alternative to chemical coccidiostats has been launched in the UK, offering broiler producers another tool to combat coccidiosis.
Alquernat Zycox, introduced by Hysolv, is a pronutrient-based feed additive designed to replace traditional chemical coccidiostats. According to Hysolv’s Jim Bigmore, the product “does not build up resistance in coccidia species and can be used throughout the birds’ growing period without a withdrawal period or harmful residues.”
Supplied as a 25 kg premix, Zycox is added at 0.5 kg per tonne of feed. A companion product, Zycox-L, can be administered through drinking water during high-risk stages to help prevent late-cycle coccidiosis.
Developed in Spain by Biovet, Zycox has already been successfully used in millions of birds across several continents.
Coccidiosis is estimated to cost UK broiler producers around £108 million annually. With restrictions on antibiotics and growing resistance to chemical treatments, farmers have increasingly relied on vaccines.
Bigmore explained that Zycox works by boosting the bird’s local immune response in the gut, interrupting the coccidia life cycle and supporting vaccine efficacy.
Global trials involving more than 2.5 million birds have shown improvements in feed conversion, growth rates, and mortality compared with chemical alternatives.
“With the pressure to reduce chemical use and antibiotic reliance, producers are turning to complementary solutions,” said Bigmore. “The lack of a withdrawal period is a major advantage with Zycox.”