Bee Pollen (BP) is a mixture of nectar, salivary secretions from bees, and
pollen grains collected from the flowers. It contains a wide range of nutrients, including
proteins (10-40%), carbohydrates (13-55%), lipids (1-20%), vitamins (0.02-0.1%),
minerals (0.5-3%), flavonoids (0.04-3%), and other bioactive substances such as
phenolic compounds. BP has been reported to possess various therapeutic properties
including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial
activities. The chemical composition and bioactive substances in BP may differ
significantly owing to factors such as plant species, nutritional status, environmental
conditions, age, and vegetation during the flowering period. BP has been shown to
have beneficial effects on human health, including the prevention of prostate problems,
arteriosclerosis, and tumors. In animal science, BP supplementation has been evaluated
primarily in poultry with encouraging results. BP can improve the cell immune
response, antibody production speed and reinforce the immunological system. The
positive effects of BP on animal productive performance may be due to its nutritive
value, appetite-stimulant properties, and the presence of digestive enzymes. In
domestic animals such as sheep, broilers, rabbits, and quails, supplementation with BP has been reported to improve the immune response, increase feed digestibility, reduce
oxidative stress, and improve animal performance. This chapter emphasizes the use of
Bee Pollen in livestock nutrition as a feed supplement to improve productive
performance as an eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics.
Keywords: Antioxidants, Animal performance, Bioactive components, Bee Pollen, Growth promoters, Livestock.
