Effect of milk protein nutrition (cow casein, buffalo casein and whey protein isolate (WPI)‎)‎ on brood area and hypopharyngeal glands development in honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera L)‎

الملخص EN

This study was conducted to test the addition and feeding of milk casein and whey as a source of protein for honeybee individuals and its effect on honey productivity.

Honeybee colonies collect pollen for adult longevity and the brood reading.

However, pollens are poor in amino acids, so it's important to add artificial protein source.

In this trial, cow casein, buffalo casein and whey were tested during autumn 2021.

The results showed that the mean brood area in the tested colonies fed on whey diet (128.17 inch²) increase significantly comparing with the other diets (110.88, 100.00 and 81.38 inch² for buffalo casein, cow casein and control diet, respectively.

In the lab, caged worker bees consumed the highest amount of whey followed by buffalo and cow casein then the control ones (4.79, 3.64, 3.59 and 2.87 mg, respectively).

The area of hypopharyngeal glands showed the greatest value in the worker bees fed on whey diet (0.039 mm²).

A positive relationship was conducted between consumption of protein diets and hypopharyngeal gland surface area development.