Bee pollen improves productivity of laying Japanese quails

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bee pollen (BP) on the performance of laying Japanese quails and egg quality. A total of 60 quails were used in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% BP inclusion in diets) and five replicates. At the end of the study, productive performance and egg quality were evaluated; 160 eggs were maintained at different temperatures based on a completely randomized design and factorial arrangement (4 × 2), with four BP levels (cited above) and two storage temperatures (room temperature and refrigeration) for 14 days, totaling eight treatments with four replicates. BP levels did not influence (P> 0.05) feed conversion; however, daily feed intake, laying rate, egg mass, and weight and percentage of albumen increased. Yolk percentage decreased due to the augmentation of BP in diets. There was no effect (P> 0.05) of interaction of storage temperature × BP levels on egg quality, except with regard to the Haugh unit. BP supplementation resulted in higher egg weight and index of yolk and albumen. Refrigerated eggs had better internal quality than normal eggs. BP inclusion in diets of Japanese quails improved bird performance and the quality of fresh and stored eggs.

摘要：本研究旨在评估蜂花粉（bee pollen, BP）对日本鹌鹑产蛋性能及蛋品质的影响。实验采用完全随机试验设计，选取60只日本鹌鹑，设置4个日粮BP添加水平组（0%、0.5%、1%、1.5%），每组设5个重复。试验结束后，对鹌鹑的生产性能与蛋品质进行测定；随后采用完全随机设计与4×2因子排列设计，将160枚鸡蛋按前述4个BP添加水平与2个贮藏温度（室温、冷藏）分为8组，每组4个重复，于对应温度下贮藏14天。结果显示：日粮BP添加水平对饲料转化率无显著影响（P>0.05）；但日采食量、产蛋率、总蛋重以及蛋白重量与占比均显著提升。随着日粮BP添加量增加，蛋黄占比显著降低。贮藏温度与BP添加水平的交互作用仅对哈氏单位（Haugh unit）存在显著影响，其余蛋品质指标均不受二者交互作用影响（P>0.05）。日粮补充BP可提升蛋重，以及蛋黄指数与蛋白指数。冷藏贮藏的鸡蛋内部品质优于室温贮藏鸡蛋。综上，在日本鹌鹑日粮中添加蜂花粉可改善其生产性能，并提升鲜蛋及贮藏蛋的品质。