Reinforcement of the yield of bees (Apis mellifera) fed with protein sources

• Main Authors: Núñez-Torres Oscar Patricio, Almeida-Secaira Roberto Ismael, Rosero-Peñaherrera Marco Antonio, Lozada-Salcedo Euclides Efraín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Selva Andina Research Society 2017-10-01
• Series: Journal of the Selva Andina Animal Science
• Subjects: apis mellifera; protein supplementation; pollen.
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.org.bo/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2311-25812017000200002&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the application of three types of protein sources of plant origin as a substitute for pollen in bee feeding (Apis mellifera). This investigation was conducted at the Technical University of Ambato, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Cevallos town in Tungurahua province. The variables to be studied were queen posture (PR), final population weight (PPF), pollen production (PDNP), honey production (NDDP) and food consumption. A completely randomized design with four treatments and three replicates was used in which 12 hives were used, which were divided into four groups: The first one received a cake-based supplement of soybean meal (T1), the second received a cake-based supplement of pea meal (T2), the third received a cake-like supplement based on lentil flour (T3) and the fourth was the control group (T0). Supplementation was given for eight weeks, once a week, between November and January 2016 and 2017. The results were evaluated with an analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5%. For PR, PPF, PDNP, PDNM and CTP treatments T1 and T2 showed better results with values ​​for T1 PR (4310.3 eggs), increase in population (0.4133 kg), PDNP (1271.7 g) and CTP (266.55 g) and T2 PR 3908.3 eggs), increase in population (0.20 kg), PDNP (1289.3 g) and CTP (240.80 g) respectively. In conclusion, it is recommended to use soybean meal as a protein ingredient in the production of pollen substitutes for bees as it improves the performance of the hive and its cost is lower.