Coccidiosis is the leading health challenge in broiler production, causing significant reductions in growth rates and feed efficiency, which in turn affects overall profitability.¹ In broiler production, this parasitic disease, caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, leads to intestinal damage, reduced weight gain and increased mortality.² As poultry producers strive to combat this persistent threat while meeting consumer expectations for responsible antimicrobial use, Elanco’s Maxiban™ offers a proven and effective solution. By delivering robust, reliable and sustainable control of coccidiosis across multiple broiler production cycles, Maxiban plays a vital role in maintaining flock health and performance. 

How Does Maxiban Work?  

Maxiban is a potentiated chemical product composed of a 1:1 mixture of narasin, an ionophore, and nicarbazin, a chemical anticoccidial. It operates through a synergistic mode of action that disrupts the coccidia life cycle at the critical extracellular and intracellular stages.   

Narasin targets the extracellular stage of coccidia, disrupting their ability to invade host cells. As the parasites transition into the intracellular phase, nicarbazin halts their mitochondrial energy production, interfering with their ability to reproduce. This dual mode of action results in more effective control than either agent could achieve alone.

By targeting coccidia at different stages of their lifecycle and through separate energy pathways, Maxiban can dramatically reduce the likelihood of resistance development. Low dosages of narasin and nicarbazin place minimal selection pressure on coccidial populations, enabling consistent long-term efficacy. Unlike treatments with high-dose single-agents, which often accelerate resistance, Maxiban's complex action provides sustainable control over multiple production cycles, maintaining bird health and performance while safeguarding future efficacy. 

Key Benefits  

Maxiban offers a range of key benefits, making it a practical and long-lasting solution for managing coccidiosis in broiler production.   

Lower Risk of Resistance: As outlined above, one of its primary advantages is its lower risk of resistance development. Maxiban’s use of low levels of narasin and nicarbazin delivers a dual mode of action that maintains long-term effectiveness. 

Extended-Use: Another standout feature is its ability to maintain effectiveness over extended use.  Maxiban is recommended for use in more than two cycles annually for large birds weighing over six pounds, while small bird complexes benefit from three or more cycles per year. This extended-use capability helps producers avoid the inconsistencies often seen with rotation programs. 

Protects Intestinal Integrity: Including narasin in Maxiban protects against enteritis and Clostridium perfringens, which cause necrotic enteritis. Maintaining gut health is essential for optimal nutrient absorption and improved growth, and it prevents experiencing pain or even death from infections.   

Animal-Use-Only Anticoccidial: As an animal-use-only product, Maxiban aligns with consumer and regulatory expectations to limit antibiotics critical to human medicine. This designation meets the growing consumer demand for responsible use of antimicrobials in food production, supporting both animal health and public confidence.  

Combination Effect: The synergistic combination of narasin and nicarbazin enhances anticoccidial activity beyond what either compound can achieve alone. This dual-action approach ensures more comprehensive coccidia control, improving efficacy and supporting bird health. 

Refocus Critical Resources: As new and devastating disease threats like Avian Influenza and Avian Metapneumovirus emerge in the U.S., Maxiban provides a more “care-free” program that allows veterinary and field resources to address more urgent and complex health challenges within the flock. 

Establishing a Comprehensive Coccidiosis Prevention Program  

While products like Maxiban are critical in controlling coccidiosis, a comprehensive prevention program also involves sound husbandry practices. Key components include the following: 

Litter Management: Coccidial oocysts persist and re-infect birds in environments without proper sanitation and litter treatment. Removing or treating litter between flocks and ensuring dry, well-aerated conditions helps reduce parasite load in the poultry house. It is critical to control litter moisture because high humidity promotes oocyst sporulation and facilitates its spread. Creating an unfavorable environment for coccidia by maintaining adequate ventilation, temperature and moisture regulation will lower the risk of infection in subsequent flocks.   

Nutrition Management: Balanced diets support gut health and bolster birds’ immune systems, making them more resilient to infection. Nutrition optimization ensures proper growth, efficient feed conversion and maintaining intestinal integrity, all of which are critical in reducing the impact of coccidial infections. 

Feed Additive Assays: These tests help verify the presence and potency of medicated feed components that are accurately mixed into the feed and maintain their potency over time. Regular use of feed additive assays helps producers ensure consistent flock health outcomes and maximize the effectiveness of their coccidiosis prevention programs. 

Data Tracking and HTSi Integration: Coccidiosis monitoring and data tracking are essential for evaluating the success of prevention programs. Routine assessments—such as monitoring weight gain, evaluating droppings, tracking mortality, conducting lesion scoring and counting oocysts—help identify early signs of resistance or control breakdowns.

To further strengthen data-driven decision-making, Elanco’s Health Tracking System (HTSI) platform provides a powerful tool to transform on-farm health data into actionable insights. HTSi aggregates and analyzes information from multiple production sites, enabling producers to identify emerging health trends, benchmark performance, and monitor the long-term effectiveness of anticoccidial programs like Maxiban. This integration allows producers to respond proactively, refine their strategies, and continuously improve outcomes.

When integrated with a comprehensive coccidiosis prevention program, Maxiban provides robust protection against coccidiosis. By combining Maxiban’s dual-action control with sound management practices, producers can achieve more consistent and successful outcomes in preventing coccidiosis. 

In today’s evolving poultry landscape, producers face the dual challenge of ensuring flock health while meeting heightened consumer and regulatory expectations for responsible antimicrobial use. Coccidiosis remains one of the most significant threats to broiler performance, making consistent, sustainable control essential.

With its synergistic dual mode of action, lower risk of resistance, and alignment with animal-use-only standards, Maxiban empowers producers to stay ahead of this persistent challenge. When integrated into a comprehensive prevention program, Maxiban delivers the reliability and performance producers need—cycle after cycle—to protect both their birds and their bottom line.

To learn more about Maxiban and how it can fit into your operation, contact your Elanco representative or visit www.elanco.us/maxiban.

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