Bee propolis extract as a phytogenic feed additive to enhance diet digestibility, rumen microbial biosynthesis, mitigating methane formation and health status of late pregnant ewes

•Red propolis extract (RPE) contains twenty phenolic compounds, all belonging to the flavonoids.•The supplementation of RPE enhances apparent nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial protein syntheses.•RPE possess antimethanogenic activity and reduces the cortisol, triiodothyronine and thyroxine of late pregnant ewes.•Propolis represents a promising natural supplement for supporting ewes through the late pregnancy period.