Field Evaluation of Honey Bee Nutrition Product
Cooperative trial between Duncan Johnstone of Arataki Honey Limited, Hawke’s Bay and Ross McLean of Bee Vigor Products Limited, New Zealand, commencing 13th November 2017. Trial BVPL 131117
Aim
To observe the effects of feeding the honey bee nutrition development product Formulation 1 in comparison with untreated hives under field conditions, during November 2017 through January 2018.
Method
The trial site was on the western side of Napier, Hawke’s Bay. Eight similar strength hives at the same location were divided into two groups of four hives, giving four replicates for the treated and untreated. All hives were two boxes high, with a queen excluder above a ten-frame single brood chamber.
Prior to treatment, all hives including the untreated were opened for inspection of all the frames. After evaluation, the frames were replaced in the hives and the product was applied in ribbons along the top of the brood frames prior to placement of the queen excluder and hive closure.
The product was packaged in a 600g sausage, which was placed in a caulking gun with an 8cm long nozzle incorporating an 8mm delivery hole. One trigger pull of the caulking gun delivered approximately 30g of product. Dosage commenced on 13th November with about 120g of test product (4 trigger pulls) applied on top of the brood frames, followed by two more similar doses at seven-day intervals.
- Untreated control hives received no test product, no sugar syrup or any other form of supplement.
- Test hives received only the test product, no sugar syrup or any other form of supplement.
Honey was harvested from the eight hives in the trial site, in the last week of January 2018.
Observations
The treated hives were noticeably calmer, with a lot more foraging activity and pollen collection, as observed at the hive entrances.
At the end of the trial, the treated hives were stronger, with more bees, brood and stores. Treated hive bees looked in better condition than untreated.
The caulking gun system was extremely easy to use, no mixing, no spills, no mess, no waste.
Bees were attracted to the product and there were no traces of unconsumed material.
Observation Data
Untreated Hives (UTC): 13th November:
Average frames of brood per hive: 5.6
Average frames of bees per hive: 8.75
Average Kg of stores per hive: 7kg
UTC: 4th December
Average frames of brood per hive: 7.3
Average frames of bees per hive: 11.6
Average Kg of stores per hive: 9kg
Treated Hives: 13th November
Average frames of brood per hive: 6.5
Average frames of bees per hive: 9
Average Kg of stores per hive: 6.5-7kg
Treated Hives: 4th December
Average frames of brood per hive: 9.25
Average frames of bees per hive: 18.25
Average Kg of stores per hive: 15.5kg
Conclusion
The four-replication field trial demonstrated a useful increase in brood numbers, bee numbers and honey production from the use of the honey bee nutrition development product Formulation 1. The caulking gun system had application benefits.