Apimedica: Chickens Fed Bee Products Have A Greater Weight, Higher Survival Rate

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ApimondiaApimedica-Apiquality International ForumOct.22-25, 2012Zhenjiang,China
 The Supplementary Use of Bee Products in Chicken Feed in Iran and CanadaShivaKehiri, Nazanin Mansoursamaei, Forough Miar, Hossein Yeganehrad Contact: shivakehiri@yahoo.com,Caspian Apiaries, New Westminster, BC, Canada, 604.338.4522, caspianapiaries@gmail.com              Poultryfarming is a popular and profitable business throughout the world, yet variousdrugs are used in the feed to promote growth and to prevent disease. Consumption of these products can affect humans, misbalancing hormone levels(especially testosterone levels in women) and creating antibioticresistance.  Traditional farming methods did not require the use of suchsupplements as the chickens were provided with proper nutrients from theirsurroundings.  Whenchickens are found to have pollen in their diet from natural sources, theireggs are more vibrant, the skin of the egg becomes tougher, and the chickenshave a higher level of immunity to disease.  Currently, chickens found inman-made, artificial conditions are found to have lower levels ofimmunity.  This is due to a poor diet, thus requiringsupplementation.  Whenbee pollen is fed to chickens, they receive an array of vitamins, minerals andcarbohydrates, fulfilling their nutritional needs. Addingpropolis to the pollen-feed provides resistance to infection, preventing theneed for certain antibiotics.  Fourdifferent poultry groups were tested with different feeds and the results wereobserved.  One group was supplemented with bee products, one group wasgiven conventional chicken antibiotics, one group was given no supplements(control), and the last group foraged for their own food, consuming mostlyinsects.
The group that consumed the bee products was found to have a greater weight anda higher rate of survival. This is a potential option for organic chickenfarmers, with possibilities for fish as well. The only concern is the cost ofthe bee products, which are expensive when compared to conventional antibioticsand other supplements.  The consumer willpay less when buying the cheaper poultry rather than the ones supplemented withbee products, but consuming this meat can create many more negative sideeffects, costing much more in the long term.