Development of Probiotic Feed from Oil Palm Pollen Fermented for Apis mellifera
Eggi Pur Pinandita (a), Lilik Eka Radiati (b*), Osfar Sjofjan (c), Sri Minarti (a), Poppy Satya Puspita (a)

a) Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya
Malang, 65145 Jawa Timur, Indonesia
b) Department of Animal Products Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya
Malang, 65145 Jawa Timur, Indonesia
*Lilik.eka[at]ub.ac.id
c) Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya
Malang, 65145 Jawa Timur, Indonesia

Abstract

Optimal nutrition is essential for sustaining honey bee health and productivity, with pollen quality and availability serving as critical determinants. However, natural pollen resources are often limited or inconsistent, necessitating the development of supplementary feeds. This study evaluated the potential of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) pollen fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic feed to enhance colony performance in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). The objective was to assess its impact on colony health, productivity, and behavioral dynamics compared to conventional pollen feeding. A total of forty honey bee colonies were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: Control (no pollen supplementation), Natural Palm Pollen, Unfermented Pollen with Honey, and Fermented Pollen with Honey. Colonies were monitored for six months under standardized beekeeping conditions. Key parameters measured included feed intake, brood development, honey production, immune function, worker lifespan, behavioral performance, royal jelly production, and overall colony health. The results demonstrated significant improvements in colonies fed fermented pollen. Feeding intake increased by 27%, brood area expanded by 68%, and larval survival to adulthood rose by 25% relative to controls. Honey yield increased by up to 57%, accompanied by a 35-46% rise in vitellogenin concentration and antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating enhanced immunity. Worker bees showed a 25% increase in lifespan, 36% improvement in foraging efficiency, and 29% improvement in travel efficiency. Additional outcomes included a 40% rise in honey production and marked improvements in body weight, growth rate, and life expectancy. In conclusion, supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented oil palm pollen markedly improved colony nutrition, immunity, and productivity. These findings suggest that fermented pollen offers a promising strategy as a supplementary diet for apiculture, providing a sustainable approach to enhance honey bee performance and overall colony health.

Keywords: Apis mellifera, Beekeeping Nutrition, Colony Productivity, Fermented Palm Pollen, Productivity Honey Bee, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Topic: Animal Nutrition