Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies specifications and test methods of protein supplements used as supplementary feed for honey bee. Note: protein supplements includes pollen based supplements and pollen substitutes. 

Purpose

Honey bees need carbohydrates (sugars in nectar and honey), protein and amino acids, fats, vitamins, minerals (from pollen) and water. Complementary feed in honey bees are used to meet the needs when natural (nectar and pollen) sources are insufficient or unavailable. Breastfeeding activity, nutritional status in the colony, quality and quantity of pollen and nectar collected, and food reserves in the hive, determine when the colony needs supplemental nutrition.

Colonies are usually fed complementary foods for a variety of reasons, such as: developing a colony to have a desirable population during nectar flow, supporting neonatal growth and colonization in adverse climates, providing adequate food supplies for overwintering colonies. , Specific goals or products such as queen rearing, royal jelly production, etc.

Complementary nutrition in honey bees is usually discussed in terms of sugary and protein-based nutrition. The use of protein supplements in supplemental nutrition of honey bees is usually in the form of pollen substitutes and pollen supplements. Protein supplements used in supplemental honey bee nutrition cannot be completely substituted for natural pollen, but to meet the honey bee's nutritional needs, especially the needs for protein, amino acids, lipids, minerals and vitamins when pollen is found in nature not applicable.

Take a look at the statistics and Necessities:

The number of colonies in the world is 92265141 colonies according to the FAO statistics for 2018. According to the contents of the book “FAT BEES SKINNY BEES”, each colony a year, needs on average, between 500 and 1000 grams of supplements or pollen substitutes. Which is multiplied by the statistics of the world's colonies to calculate the amount required by the beekeeping industry in the world .Due to the high volume required for supplements and substitutes, it is necessary to develop a standard.

According to FAO statistics in 2017 there are about 90999730 honey bee colonies worldwide and the rate of honey production in whole world is about 1860712 tones. Iran has the third rank in the world for number of colonies and honey production rate in the word. Following national statistics are listed below:

1. Total number of colonies is 8434808 in 2018 and 10630000 in 2019.

2. Total number of modern hives is 8113128 in 2018 and 10290000 in 2019.

3. Total number of traditional hives is 321680 in 2018 and 340000 in 2019.

4. Number of apiaries is 85336 in 2018 and 98000 in 2019.

5. Honey production (tons) is 90495 in 2018 and 112000 in 2019.

6. Average honey production in a modern hive (kg) is 10.98 in 2018 and 10.7 in 2019.

7. Production of wax (tons) is 1460 in 2018 and 2227 in 2019.

8. Production of pollen (tons) is 122 in 2018 and 286 in 2019.

9. Production of Royal Jelly (Tone) is 3.4 in 2018 and 3.2 in 2019.

10. Per capita honey production (grams) is 1101 in 2018 and 1354 in 2019.

11. Per capita consumption of honey (grams) is 1079 in 2018 and 1344 in 2019.

12. Honey export rate (tons) is 1759 in 2018 and 789 in 2019 (the first 8 months of the year).

13. Wax exports (tons) is 27 in 2018.

Therefore it is necessary to standardize the honey bee feed for this industry to achieve the following aims:

1. Determining the appropriate ingredients in complementary and alternative nutrition or pollen supplements or quality discussion

2. Develop standards to facilitate the export of these products between different countries 

3. Determining the amount of nutrients needed by honey bees in supplements and pollen substitutes

4. Formulation of diets based on the principles of ration writing and scientifically