>We have already agreed on that in debunking the extender patty myth, but it
the same for all antibiotics?  I think not.

Allen, I feel that many would not agree with you that the extender patty
influence on OTC resistance is either a myth, nor has it been debunked.  To
the contrary, I feel feel that this discussion has made a good case for
supporting the hypothesis that misuse of the patties contributed to
resistance!

>
>  >I'm seeing less AFB, but have not used Tylan to any extent.
>>
> >What does, "to any extent" mean?
>

I use it for a single dose when I do "shake and bake"--the shaking of AFB
colonies onto combs of foundation, prior to burning the old frames.

>



> >Your neighbours may be using Tylan...
>
Other than my temporary "neighbors" in almonds, none are.

>
> >Stay vigilant.
>

Allen, I get the feeling that you are misreading me.  I am not condemning
judicious antibiotic use.

When I penciled out the cost of preparing and administering OTC patties as a
prophylactic treatment, and compared it to the costs of burning the few
hives a year that came down with AFB when I didn't treat, the non treatment
won out, especially when I could sell my honey for more to those who were
concerned about antibiotics in food.  Now that we know that antibiotics may
mess with the natural bee endosymbiont gut bacteria, I am even more hesitant
to apply them wholesale across my operation.

I am no stranger to burning truckloads of AFB-contaminated combs, but I have
found over the past ten years or so, that I save money by using resistant
stock, carefully inspecting my hives, burning any that show even a single
cell of AFB, and applying a single OTC patty to each hive in a yard in which
a colony exhibited AFB (after I pull honey).  I also hot tank all my
woodenware to kill AFB spores.

I don't do any of the barrier method that the West Australians do, and swap
combs freely.

It's been quite a few years, but this method has worked for me (knock on
wood).  Before you fire off a retort, I'm not recommending it for anyone
else, since I do something that most do not--I individually inspect every
frame in my operation each spring when we nuc up all our colonies.  At that
juncture, it is easy to find AFB at an early stage.

Randy Oliver

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