Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Small Ruminant Research, cilt.249, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study aimed to investigate the effects of the ethanol extract of propolis (EEP), a natural substance derived from bees, on growth performance, selected health parameters, and immune responses in weaned lambs. A total of 30 male Trakya Kıvırcık lambs (14 ± 2 weeks old; 24.2 ± 1 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: EEP0 (control), EEP3 (3 mL/day), and EEP6 (6 mL/day). The treatments were administered orally each morning before feeding for a duration of 42 days. Growth performance parameters (body weight, body measurements, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and weight gain) and health indicators (heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and cough score) were monitored weekly. Immune parameters, including serum levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM, were evaluated on days 0, 21, and 42 of the trial. The results showed that EEP supplementation had no significant effect on body weight or body measurements (P > 0.05). Although total weight gain differences among groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.056), a pairwise comparison revealed a significant increase in weight gain in the EEP6 group compared to the control (P = 0.029). No significant differences were observed in total dry matter intake (P = 0.331), while the feed conversion ratio was significantly improved by EEP supplementation (P = 0.002). EEP had no significant effect on health parameters except for cough score (P > 0.05). Notably, the EEP6 group demonstrated a significantly lower the cough frequency following tracheal stimulation (P < 0.001). Serum IgG levels did not differ between groups (P > 0.05), whereas both IgA and IgM levels tended to be higher in the EEP6 group on days 21 and 42 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the daily administration of 6 mL EEP (equivalent to 1800 mg propolis) in weaned lambs showed potential benefits in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency, cough response, and certain immune parameters (IgA and IgM).