TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of bee pollen supplementation in lactating ewes on maternal blood parameters and lamb growth performance AU - Balkanska, Ralitsa AU - Todorova, Mariya AU - Ivanova, Tanya PY - 2025 DA - October Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.33988/auvfd.1700688 JF - Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi JO - Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg PB - Ankara University WT - DergiPark SN - 1300-0861 SP - 1 EP - 6 LA - en AB - The aim of the study was to determine the effect of pollen supplementation on lactating ewes and their lambs. An experiment was carried out for a period of 4 weeks with 22 lactating ewes and their offspring of the breed Ile de France (28 lambs), matched for lambing date and live weight of the lambs. The sheep were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Feeding was the same for both groups. The experimental group was supplemented with bee pollen at a dose of 6 g/twice per week at regular intervals of 3 days. The live weight of the lambs was determined at the beginning and at the end of the experiment, and the average daily gain was calculated. Blood samples were taken from the ewes, and some biochemical parameters were examined. The live weights and growth of lambs at the beginning and end of the experiment showed a slight trend towards higher values in the experimental group, which were not significant. In the biochemical profile, the values of the parameters studied during both periods were within the reference range for the animals, with the exception of glucose, which was lower. Significant differences (P KW - Bee pollen KW - Biochemical profiles KW - Lactating ewes KW - Lambs CR - Abd El-Aziz A, Abo Ghanima M, Mota-Rojas D, et al (2023): Bee products for poultry and rabbits: Current challenges and perspectives. Animals, 13, 1-12. CR - Abdelnour SA, Abd El-Hack ME, Alagawany M, et al (2019): Beneficial impacts of bee pollen in animal production, reproduction and health. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr, 103, 477-484. CR - Achkakanova E, Staykova G (2019): Evaluation of the main productive traits of Ile de France sheep in Bulgaria. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 25, 69-72. CR - Achkakanova Е, Minkova T, Nikolov V (2020): Growth of lambs of the Ile-de-France breed from birth to weaning and factors affecting it. Scientific Papers. Series D. Anim Sci, 1, 13-18. CR - Aguiar SC, Cottica SM, Boeing JS, et al (2014): Effect of feeding phenolic compounds from propolis extracts to dairy cows on milk production, milk fatty acid composition, and the antioxidant capacity of milk. Anim Feed Sci Tech, 193, 148-154. CR - Almaraz-Abarca N, Campos MG, AvilaReyes JA, et al (2004): Variability of antioxidant activity among honeybee-collected pollen of different botanical origin. Interciencia, 29, 574-578. CR - Antunović Z, Mioč B, Klir Šalavardić Ž, et al (2021): The effect of lactation stage on the hematological and serum-related biochemical parameters of the travnik pramenka ewes. Poljoprivreda, 27, 56-62. CR - Antunović Z, Novoselec J, Šperanda M, et al. (2011): Changes in biochemical and hematological parameters and metabolic hormones in Tsigai ewes blood in the first third of lactation. Arch Anim Breed, 54, 535-545. CR - AOAC (2007): Official Methods of Analysis. 18th edition, Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 18th edition. CR - Gaithersburg. 10. Barajas J, Cortes-Rodriguez M, Rodríguez-Sandoval E (2012): Effect of temperature on the drying process of beepollen from two zones of Colombia. J Food Proc Eng, 35, 134-148. CR - Castillo C, Hernandez J, Bravo A, et al (2007): Oxidative status during late pregnancy and early lactation in dairy cows. Vet J, 169, 286-292. CR - Ekici М, Takcı А, Buğra Kıvrak М (2021): Comparison of some hematological and serum biochemical variables in Kangal Akkaraman, Texel and Île De France ewes in lactation period within Sivas province. Eurasian J Vet Sci, 37, 296-302. CR - Fodail M, Abdel-Khalek AE, Gabr SA, et al (2018): Productive performance of ewes administrated with bee pollen during pre-and post-partum. Egypt J Sheep Goats Sci, 13, 23-35. CR - Gaafar H, El-Nahrawy M, ElKersh M, et al (2024): Effect of using the bee pollen as feed additive for suckling Rahmani lambs on immunity response, diseases infection, mortality rate, growth performance and output of weaning weight. Egypt J Sheep Goats Sci, 19, 23-32. CR - Han X, Shen T, Lou H (2007): Dietary polyphenols and their biological significance. Int. J Mol Sci, 8, 950-988. CR - Hou L., Guo TJ, Chen YX, et al (2023): Effect of unbroken bee pollen on growth performance, immunity and economic benefits of sheep. Feed Res, 46, 1-15. CR - IvanovaT (2022): Influence of the order of lambing of the sheep of the Ile de France breed on the weight development of the lambs. Anim Sci, 5, 16-21. CR - Kaneko JJ, Harvey JW, Bruss ML (2008): Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals. Academic Press. CR - Khalifa SAM, Elashal MH, Yosri N, et al (2021): Bee pollen: Current status and therapeutic potential. Nutrients, 13, 1-15. CR - Laleva St, Slavova P, Ivanova T, et al (2020): Phenotypic characteristics of breeding traits in Ile de France sheep. Anim Sci, 57, 23-30. CR - Madras-Majewska B, Ochnio L, Ochnio M (2015): Use of bee products in livestock nutrition and therapy. Med Weter, 71, 94-99. CR - Mašek T, Mikulec Ž, Valpotić H, Pa et al (2007): Blood biochemical parameters of crossbred Istrian × East Friesian dairy ewes: relation to milking period. Italian J Anim Sci, 6, 281-288. CR - MSD Manuals (2023): Merck & Co., Inc. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/hematology-complete-blood-count-reference-ranges. (Accessed May 2, 2025). CR - Onbaşılar İ, Yalçın S, Eser H, et al (2025): Combined use of essential oils with organic acids in modifying performance, intestinal health, caecal microflora, and selected blood and bone parameters in broilers. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, 72, 377-386. CR - Patkowski K, Pięta M, Lipecka C (2006): Effect of maintanance system on the reproduction of sheep as well as the level of some morphological and biochemical blood indicators. Arch Tierz, 49, 297-304. CR - Raicheva E, Ivanova T (2005): Effect of lambing, type of birth and sex on the live weight and the gain of Ill de France lambs. Anim Sci, 5, 222-226. CR - Rodríguez-Pólit C, Gonzalez-Pastor R, Heredia-Moya J, et al (2023): Chemical properties and biological activity of bee pollen. Molecules, 28, 1-27. CR - Schultz E, Macedo Junior G, Oliveira K, et al (2022): Reference interval of biochemical parameters of lactating sheep in the tropics. Ciênc Agrár Londrina, 43, 2415-2424. CR - Seven I, Aksu T, Tatli Seven P (2012): The effects of propolis and vitamin C supplemented feed on performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to lead. Livest Sci, 148, 10-15. CR - Thakur M, Nanda V (2020): Composition and functionality of bee pollen: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol, 98, 82-106. CR - Varanis LFM, Oliveira KA, Araujo CM, et al (2021): Serum biochemical reference ranges for pregnant sheep. Biosci J, 37, e37036. CR - Yanchev I, Metodiev N, Moneva P, et al (2023): Differences in some biochemical parameters in two herds of Karakachan sheep depending on environment. Anim Husb, 60, 10-18. UR - https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1700688 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4876413 ER -