Sakineh Babaei; Shaban Rahimi; Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi; Gholam Hosein Tahmasebi; Seyed Naser Khaleghi Miran
Volume 17, Issue 2 , October 2015, , Pages 311-320
Abstract
The effect of honey, royal jelly and bee pollenon performance, immune system and blood factors of Japanese quail, using 160 quail chicks in a completely randomized design by four treatments ]control (without additives), pollen powder 1 g/kg, royal jelly 125 ppm/L, honey 22 g/L) and four replicates of ...
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The effect of honey, royal jelly and bee pollenon performance, immune system and blood factors of Japanese quail, using 160 quail chicks in a completely randomized design by four treatments ]control (without additives), pollen powder 1 g/kg, royal jelly 125 ppm/L, honey 22 g/L) and four replicates of 10 chicks in each replication for 42 days. The experimental groups had no significant effect on feed intake and mortality rate (P>0.05) in whole period. Birds that received honey in drinking water, the best daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio had compared to other groups. The experimental groups had no significant effect on the antibody production against sheep red blood cells. The highest antibody titers against Newcastle disease and Avian Influenza viruses were related to honey treatment (P<0.05). Addition of pollen to diet, royal jelly and honey in drinking water were significantly affected spleen weight compared to control group (P<0.01). Honey and pollen showed a better response to cell mediated immunity (P<0.01). The use of honey bee products improved blood factors (P<0.01). The results showed that the honey and royal jelly enhanced immunity and performance of the Japanese quails. Furthermore, they were reduced serum glucose and lipids in these birds. Although bee pollenimproved blood factors but it was less effective in improving the immune system and performance.