Hello Gang,

The October issue of Bee Culture magazine has several interesting
article on controlling American Foulbrood without using anti-biotics.

The article that piqued my curiosity is titled "Prevention and Control
of American Foulbrood Without use of Anti-biotics, by Camilla Juul
Bradsgaard, and Henrik Hansen, of Denmark.

I won't belabor the point here by repeating the very interesting article
word for word, so please take the time to read it.

Using a variation on an old technique, they were able to show
good results, not that there was anything wrong with the original
technique, but it was expanded upon.

Richard Taylor has mentioned this in print many times.

The colony is manipulated by shaking all of the bees out of the infected
hive, it is then held in a box for three days in order to consume
any honey in the bees stomachs, and then placed in a brand new hive
on foundation.

AFB is a brood disease so leaving the brood behind to be disposed of
saves the bees, and gives them a new start.
I like this method because it eliminates the use of anti-biotics that
so many beekeepers use today whether they need it or not.

I take anti-biotics when I need to, that is when I am sick, and that is
the way it should be. I do not take anti-biotics when I am healthy.
The question that is raised here is, why do beekeepers feed anti-biotics
to healthy bees? This is a retorical question of course.

They do it because they have;

1. Always done it that way

2. The old timer down the lane told them that is the way it should be done.

3. It is the easier softer way.

4. The magic bullet, Ad Infitum.

Find out for yourself, read and study and learn from experts.
There is nothing wrong with opintion as long as it is backed up with
scientic study.


Ernie Gregoire   "Beekeeper," def.= partially brave,
                                    partially excentric

Grist Mill Apiary

Canaan, NH. USA


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10/19/99 09:25:03


Ernie Gregoire   "Beekeeper," def.= partially brave,
                                    partially excentric

Grist Mill Apiary

Canaan, NH. USA


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10/19/99 09:54:14