Evaluation of the effect of three protein supplements on the pollinating performance of Apis mellifera
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55873/9r7z5g77Keywords:
apicultural nutrition, Apis mellifera, colony development, protein supplements, supplementary feedingAbstract
The effects of three commercial supplements on the development of Apis mellifera colonies were evaluated at Fundo Agroinca, La Joya, Arequipa. A field trial was conducted with four treatments: control, NUC+ PRO SISA, PROMEGA, and Protein Patty, complemented by proximate analysis of the supplements. During the experimental period, colony weight, number of occupied frames, and number of brood frames were recorded. PROMEGA showed the best overall performance, with the highest mean values for colony weight, occupied frames, and brood frames. NUC+ PRO SISA showed an intermediate response, whereas the Protein Patty exhibited a more limited performance in the population-related indicators. Proximate analysis revealed differences in the nutritional composition of the products. Overall, the findings indicate that colony response depends on the nutritional characteristics of the supplement used and its performance under local field conditions.
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