Protein supplement ensiling effects of ensiling on platability, body protein, brood rearing and population growth of honey bee colony (Apis mellifera)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ms. student, Department of Animal Science, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Assistant professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding fermented diets as a protein supplement, using different diets in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 7 replications per treatment for 50 days in apiary in Karaj area. Honey bee colonies were assimilated in terms of honey, population and same age sister queen. Experimental treatments included: 1. Fermented gluten meal, 2. Gluten meal, 3. Fermented soy bean meal, 4. Soy bean meal, 5. Pollen, 6. Sugar syrup. Actually, sugar syrup and pollen were used as control treatments. The results of statistical analysis of data showed significant difference in food consumption (P<0.05), where the highest to lowest food consumption of belonged to: fermented Gluten meal, Pollen, fermented Soy bean meal, Gluten meal, Soy bean meal and sugar respectively. Significant effect was seen on brood rearing (P<0.05), Fermentation gluten and soybean meal had the highest and lowest brood rearing between treatments respectively. No significant differences were seen in body protein and population size (P>0.05). The results of this experiment showed that fermenting protein sources has positive effects on health and increasing brood rearing in honeybee colonies.

Keywords


  1. Babaei, S. (2010). Effect of feeding algae (Chlorella sp) on food consumpotion, carcass protein, brood rearing and population growth of honebee (Apis mellifera). M.Sc. thesis. Animal science dept. Collage of agriculture. University of Tehran.
  2. Brodshneider, R. & Crailsheim, K. (2010). Nutrition and health in honeybees. Universirty tatsplatz 2, 8010 graz, Austria. Apidologie, 41, 278-294.
  3. Crailsheim, K. (1990). The protein balance of the honey bee worker.  Reviev article Apidologie, 21, 417-429.
  4. Ellis, A. & Hayes, G.W. (2009) An evaluation of fresh versus fermented diets for honeybees (Apis mellifera). J. Apicultural Research, 48(3).
  5. Gilliam, M. (1979). Microbilogy of pollen and beebread:The Yeasts.Apidology.10(1), 43-53.
  6. Hang,  Z . (2010). HoneyBeeNutrition.http://www.extension.org/pages/Honey_Bee_Nutritin.
  7. Haydak, M. H. (1970). Honeybee nutrition, Ann. Rev. Entomol, 15, 143-156.
  8. Herbert, E.W. & Shimanuki, H. (1978). Mineral requirements for brood rearing by honeybees fed a synthetic diet. J. apic. Res, 17(3), 118-122.
  9. Herbert, E.W., Shimanuki, H.  & Shasha, B.S. (1980). Brood rearing and food consumption by honey bee colonies fed pollen substitutes supplemented with Starch-encapsulated pollen extracts. J. Apic. Res, 19(2), 115-118.
  10. Hrassnig, N. & Crailsheim, K. (2005). Differences in drone and worker physiology in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Apidologie, 36, 255-277.
  11. Jong, D. D., Silva, E.G., Kevan, P. G. & Atkinson, J. L. (2009). Pollen substitutes increase honey bee haemolymph protein levels as much as or more than does pollen. Journal of Apicultural Research and Bee World, 48(1), 34-37.
  12. Krell, R. (1996). Value-added products from Beekeeping. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome. ISBN 92-5-103819-8.
  13. Nehzati Paghale, GH.A. (2008). Studing the digestibility of some protein supplements in HoneyBees. Ph.D. thesis. Animal science dept. Collage of agriculture. University of Tehran.
  14. Otis, G. W., Wheeler, D.E., Buck, N. & Mattila, H.R. (2004). Storage proteins in winter honey bees. Apiacta,38.352-357.
  15. Somerville, D. (2005). Fat Bees, Skinny Bees, a manual on honeybee nutrition for beekeeper, RIRDC Puplication No 05/054, Goulburn, Australi.