Feeding of the Bee Families with an Addition of CoSO4

Abstract

For their normal living, honey bees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>) require proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals. It is well known that Co and vitamin B₁₂ are two nutrients that have been reported in pollen and plants that have had positive results in bees feeding. In this respect, the aim of the study is to determine the influence of feeding of the bee families with CoSO₄ as a supplement on the chemical composition of non-flying worker bees' bodies and some bee products components. The study was conducted during May-August 2015 in the experimental apiary of the Institute of Animal Science, Kostinbrod. A total of 6 bee families were observed-3 experimental (fed with sugar syrup, sugar: water 1:1 and 4 mg/L CoSO₄ as a supplement) and 3 control (fed only with sugar syrup). The results show that the addition of 4 mg/L CoSO₄ in the sugar syrup of the bee families do not have influence on the average weight and chemical composition of non-flying worker bees. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in the diastase activity of the honey in the experimental group bee families were found.