This study was designed to evaluate the effect of using bee pollen (BP) at
different levels as a natural growth promoter on the productive performance, digestibility,
carcass traits, caecal microbial activity and some blood parameters of growing rabbits.
Sixty New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits, 5 weeks old were randomly divided into
four equal groups, with 695.75± 10.01 g BW. In the 1st group, rabbits were fed without any
supplementation and considered as control group. While, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups
were daily treated with BP at 200, 500 and 700 mg/kg BW, respectively and served as low,
medium and high treatment levels. From these findings could be noted that the growing
rabbits treated with BP significantly (P≤0.05) increased final body weight and total weight
gain and decreased feed intake (DM) as well as improved in feed conversion as compared
with control group. Both of digestibility coefficients and nutritive values of treated rabbits
were significant (P≤0.05) improved than that of the control. The dressing weight, carcass
weight and kidney fat were significantly (P≤0.05) increased with increasing BP levels.
The immunoglobulin concentration (total antioxidants capacity, IgG, IgM and IgA)
increased significantly (P≤0.05) with increasing BP levels. The amylase, lipase, and
protease activities were significantly (P≤0.05) increased in the pancreatic homogenate and
intestinal contents in the rabbits treated with high levels of BP as compared to control
group. The best economical efficiency was obtained at the high BP level compared to other
treatment groups.
Conclusively, from the obtained results it could be concluded that the supplementation of
BP at any levels studied had positive effects on rabbit's performance, blood lipid regulation
which reflecting their antioxidant of growing rabbits