Testing the effect of dearth period supplementary feeding of honeybee (Apis mellifera) on brood development and honey production

In many countries of the world, there have been many attempts to reduce the loss of honey bee colonies dearth period by improving the conditions. Supplementary feeding of honeybee colonies assists the shortfalls of naturally occurring pollen and nectar. The experiment was conducted in Gedo Research Station of Holeta Bee Research Center, Ethiopia from September 2011 to June 2013. Two treatments each with seven bee colonies were established with uniform strength. The first group was fed with pea flour while the second group was fed with sugar syrup. Feed consumption rate (gram/colony), brood and stored pollen area in cm2, colony strength in terms of frames covered by bees, cost of feeding and honey yield were collected and analyzed. When there was scarcity of pollen in study area, each colony consumed an average of 348.9 gram per day of pea flour in dry season (February to March) and 128 gram/day in rainy season (July to August). There was significant difference (p<0.05) in brood production and adult bee population between feeding treatments during the dearth periods. Colonies fed on pea flour built more brood area (1274.3±95cm2) and more adult bee population (9.7±1.6 frames of bees) as compared with colonies fed on sugar syrup built 924.8±63cm2 brood area and 7.3±1.5 frames of honeybees. When natural pollen is become available in study area, the consumption of pea flour steadily decreased to the level colonies rejected to consume. In time of honey flow season, honey produced from pea flour treatment was found to be significantly greater (p<0.05) compared to honey produced from colonies fed on sugar syrup. The mean honey yield was 26.8±2.2 colonies fed on pea flour and 21.3 ±1.8 kg for colonies fed on sugar syrup respectively. Therefore pea flour feeding was found better in dearth period colony maintenance, honey production and also reduce the cost of sugar feeding.