Melipona Bee Pollen on the Productive Performance, Blood Parameters, Lymphoid Organs and Bone Histomorphometry of Slow-Growing Chickens

This study evaluated the effects of stingless bee (Melipona) pollen supplementation on productive performance, carcass traits, hematological parameters, lymphoid organs, and bone histomorphometry in slow-growing chickens. A total of 200 one-day-old mixed-sex chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design with four dietary treatments: a control diet and diets supplemented with 4, 8, and 12 g of bee pollen per kg of feed, with five replicates of ten birds each, from 1 to 30 days of age. Productive performance was assessed, and carcass yield, edible viscera, lymphoid organs, blood parameters, and tibia morphometry were evaluated at 30 days. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). Feed intake, carcass yield, noble cuts, and edible organs were not affected by pollen inclusion. However, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were negatively affected at inclusion levels above 4 g/kg. Hematological analysis revealed significant changes in total leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes, suggesting immunomodulatory effects of pollen supplementation. No significant differences were observed in bone histomorphometric traits. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 4 g/kg of Melipona pollen can be used as a functional feed additive in slow-growing chickens, providing immunological modulation without impairing productive performance or bone integrity.