Technology of storage of bee pollen and its effects on the development of honey bees

The article presents data on changes in the protein content of bee pollen due to different storage methods. In May, during the collection of bee pollen by bee colonies, in the conditions of the farm located in the Stryi district of the Lviv region, more than 30 types of flower pollen entered the nest. At the same time, for species identification, acetolysis of seven types of flower pollen was carried out, which differed in the maximum amount of arrival: apple (Malus), dandelion (Taráxacum), winter rape (Brassica napus), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), clover (Trifolium pratense), chestnut (Castánea) and raspberry (Rúbus idáeus). To study the nitrogen content according to the Kjeldahl method, all pollen was divided into three groups according to the storage method. Bee pollen of the first group was considered fresh. In it, the nitrogen content was determined immediately after determining the species. Calculations showed the maximum crude protein content in this group. Of all types of bee pollen that were determined to be fresh, the maximum amount of protein was found in bee pollen collected during the flowering of winter rape (Brassica napus) and apple (Malus). Its average content is 24.9 ± 2.09 and 23.4 ± 1.77 %, respectively. As a result of freezing at a temperature of 18 ºС and its storage for 8–12 months, the protein content practically did not change and decreased by only 0.3–0.9 %. A slight tendency to decrease the amount of nitrogen in bee honey was also found when stored in a dried state. Bee pollen, stored for 8–12 months under different conditions, was fed to newborn honey bees and kept in entomological boxes. It was found that bee pollen storage conditions affect honey bees' food consumption rate. The minor attractiveness of the feed was found in the dried bee pollen. The absence of a connection between the content of crude protein in feed and the rate of its consumption by bees was investigated.