Vitamin and mineral additives in chelate form and productivity indicators of honey bees in the Udmurt Republic

Chelate complex compounds of metals of trace elements in recent years have begun to be widely used in animal husbandry. Nevertheless they are still practically not used in beekeeping. The purpose of the research was to study the eff ect of vitamin and mineral additives in chelate form on the productivity of honey bees in the Udmurt Republic. The research was carried out on four groups of 10 bee colonies in each. The technology of housing, feed base and climatic characteristics of the zone for all experimental groups were identical. Feeding was carried out in the spring during the fi rst spring inspection. Control group has received sugar syrup without a feed additive in an amount of 1 l (twice per 0.5 l); the 1st experimental group received a feed additive of the fi rst type (without the use of chelating compounds) at a dose of 2 g/l sugar syrup, feeding was carried out twice by 0.5 l. The 2nd experimental group received a feed additive of the second type in the following dosage: the fi rst part 0.25 ml per 0.5 l of sugar syrup and the second part 0.5 g per 0.5 l of sugar syrup. The 3rd experimental group received a feed additive of the second type in the following dosage: the fi rst part 0.5 ml per 0.5 l of sugar syrup and the second part 1 g per 0.5 l of sugar syrup. It was established as a result of research that in order to increase the efficiency of bee colonies and the level of their productivity in the natural and climatic conditions of the Udmurt Republic, the vitamin and mineral feed additive based on chelate compounds should be used in the following dosage: the fi rst part 0.25 ml per 0.5 liter of sugar syrup and the second part 0.5 g per 0.5 liter of sugar syrup.