Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Physiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
2
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
3
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt.
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the impact of Bee Pollen (BP) on the performance and blood characteristics of growing calves and heifers. Twenty healthy cow calves and heifers (aged 8-10 months with an IBW of 136.1 and 129.3 kg for calves and heifers, respectively) were assigned randomly to two groups (5 calves and 5 heifers each). The control group received the basal diet, while the treatment group was given 30 g of fresh commercial multifloral BP with the basal diet three times a week. Animals were weighed monthly, and feed intake was monitored to compute feed conversion. Blood samples were collected monthly to estimate Hb, TP, albumin, globulin, T3 and T4. Animals that received BP had heavier (P < 0.05) FBW, BWG and ADG than those in the control group. Likewise, adding BP increased (P < 0.05) the DFI, and the FCR improved (P < 0.05). Hemoglobin, total protein, globulin, albumin, T3 and T4 of animals in the BP group were enhanced (P < 0.05) than those in the control group. In conclusion, incorporating BP into the diet of growing calves and heifers could be considered a way to promote growth, improve feed conversion, and lower feeding costs.
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