Managing Coccidiosis

We developed a modular animation film that could be used for both educational and marketing purposes. The first section reveals the life cycle of Eimeria by following the parasite on its journey through the intestine. The severe effects on the intestinal villi are presented with realistic 3D-animated views of the intestine. To make the farmer aware of the carryover effect in the barn, we animate the growth cycle of broiler chickens while monitoring the shedding of the parasite. After observing several generations of broilers, it becomes clear that the parasitic burden increases with each generation and cannot be halted by ionophores due to resistance. Schematic graphics then make the farmer understand that only vaccination will control coccidiosis and ensure stable feed conversion and satisfying weight gain in the flock. In the end, the message that could not be communicated through PowerPoint presentations was more easily understood with help of a logically structured animation. Realistic animated chickens and the depiction of convincing field data achieved two primary goals: to entertain and convince the target audience.