Effect of unbroken bee pollen on growth performance, immunity and economic benefits of sheep.

he experiment was to investigate the effect of feeding sheep with unbroken bee pollen on growth performance, immunity and economic benefits. Selected 30 Hu sheep ewes weighing (36.53 ± 3.81) kg and randomly divide into five groups, with three replicates in each group and two sheep in each replicate. The sheep in CK group were fed with a basic diet, the experimental groups were with fed a basic diet supplemented with 2 (group A), 5 (group B), 8 (group C) and 11 g/(piece·d) (group D) of unbroken bee pollen. The trial period was 40 d, with a pre trial period of 10 d and a formal trial period of 30 d. The results showed that compared with CK group, the average daily feed intake in group B was extremely reduced ( P<0.01). Compared with CK group, the serum IgA content in group A was significantly increased ( P<0.05), while the IgG content was extremely increased ( P<0.01), the IgG content in the serum of group B and group C significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with CK group, the total feed cost of group A, group B, group C and group D increased by -1.29%, 3.99%, 17.83% and 31.66% respectively, the gain on weight increased by 33.33%, 6.67%, -6.67% and -11.79% respectively, the economic benefits increased by 124.61%, 13.72%, -71.23% and -126.33%, respectively. The study indicates that feeding with unbroken bee pollen appropriately can reduce feed input, improve sheep growth performance, serum immunity function and economic benefits of sheep. It is suggested to add 2 g/(piece ·d) of unbroken bee pollen in Hu sheep production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]