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

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.