Effect of replacing soybean meal with meat meal in proteinsupplements of honeybee

In order to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with meat meal in protein supplements on egg laying, larva and honey production 20 honeybee hives were used. At first stage of the experiment, characteristics (egg laying, larva and honey production) were recorded and then honey bees were fed with control supplement (based on soybean meal 13.1%, honey 3.3%, sugar powder 65.4%, low fat dried milk 2%, egg yolk 0.8%, baking yeast 2%, water 13.1%, apple vinegar 0.3% and TNT supplement 0.1%) and control supplement included 3, 4.5, 6 and 7.5 % meat meal and then recording of parameters were done continuously in four periods of 21 days. The results showed that maximum rate of egg production (1834.3 egg) was observed at treatment that included 3% meat meal and minimum rate (1187.6 egg) was for treatment that included 7.5% meat meal (P<0.05). Treatments that included 3 and 4.5% meat meal had the highest honey yield (6721.3 cm2) and larva production (1804.9 larva) respectively. Therefor using meat meal at the levels of 3 and 4.5% increased honey and egg production.