Performance and biometry of the gastrointestinal tract in growing Japanese quails fed bee pollen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of bee pollen in the diet of growing Japanese quails on productive performance, relative weight of the gastrointestinal organs and length of small and large intestines. A total of 650 one-day-old female Japanese quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments according to the dietary levels of bee pollen (0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6%), five replicates, and 26 birds per experimental unit. At the end of the experimental period (35 days of age), the performance and relative weight of the gastrointestinal organs and length of small and large intestines were evaluated. The dietary inclusion of bee pollen did not influence (P > 0.05) performance, relative weight of proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, liver, and large intestine, as well as the length of small and large intestines. However, a linear reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in the relative weight of small intestine as dietary bee pollen levels increased. The inclusion of bee pollen from 0.4 to 1.6% in the diet of growing Japanese quails did neither improve productive performance nor alter the biometry of digestive organs.