this trial looks at honey yield from package bees

Thirty colonies were established on
April 29, 1965 at Brandon, Manitoba,
from package bees received by truck
from the United States. The size of
package was adjusted to 1, 1½, 2, 3
and 4 lbs. of bees for each colony.

It may be interesting to study
honey yields per pound of bees installed.
Under the conditions of this
study, these were 101.4 lbs., 96.8 lbs ..
91.9 lbs., 60.3 lbs. and 37.6 lbs. of
honey for the 1, 1½, 2, 3 and 4 lb.
packages respectively. These values
indicate that foraging propensity was
more intense or efficient in smaller
colonies. However, the 1 lb. colonies
installed in late April have insufficient
time for build-up to take full
advantage of early July nectar flows.

Earlier installation of the 1 lb. package
is extremely hazardous, particularly
on the prairies where the
weather in April is often cold, wet
and windy. The present data suggest
that an appropriate size of package
bees for installation in the latter half
of April appears to be the 1 ½ lb. and
2 lb. packages. Both of these sizes
are in use by prairie beekeepers, and
in this study, yield difference between
the 1 ½ and 2 lb. package size was not
significant.

The above yield per pound of bees
indicates that beekeepers using divided
3 lb. packages ( containing two
queens) can expect optimum yields
per net weight of bees purchased.
Further economies may be realized
from lower cost per package and reduced
transportation charges if
shipped by truck.

Conclusions
This preliminary study has provided
results of economic interest to
beekeepers of the Canadian prairies
and neighbouring northern states. It
has helped to describe the development
of various size package bees in
northern latitudes and supports the
general contention that the 1 ½ lb.
and 2 lb. package bees installed in
the latter half of April provide excellent
returns to the beekeeper.

Size of Package Bees and Honey Yields
by J. C. M. L'ARRIVEE1 and J. E. GEIGER
Research Branch, Experimental Farm
Canada Department of Agricuiture
Brandon, Manitoba
ABJ Feb 1966

plb

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