LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION (BEE KEEPING)

Bee keeping: - refers to the rearing of bees in structures called beehives. The science
of beekeeping is known as apiculture. Traditionally honey was collected from wild bees
in the forests. Honey has become very popular with many people and this has
necessitated the improvement in ways of rearing bees.

Importance of Bee- keeping:

These include the following:

i. Source of food e.g. production of honey and bees wax.

ii. Honey is used as medicinal purposes to dress fresh wounds and in the making of
drugs such as cough syrups.
iii. As a source of income: honey and bee wax are sold to earn income.
iv. Bees are good pollinators for many crops.
v. Source of employment for many people
vi. Source of raw materials for industries
vii. bees wax is used in the manufacture of candles
viii. Source of raw materials for industries

10.1 Colony in the hive

Classifying the bees colony

A bee colony:-the bee is asocial insect which lives in a colony.

The bee colony is made up three types of bees, namely:
a. The queen
b. The drones
c. The worker bees

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The Queen: In a colony, there is only one queen. The queen is much bigger in size
compared to the rest of the bees in the hive. The function of the queen in the hive is:-

 Lay fertile eggs – the queen lay about 1,500- 2000 eggs per day when condition is
favorable

 Keeping the colony together by production of pheromone known as queen substance

for identification
The drones: are male bees and there are about 300 drones in an ordinary colony. The
drones are slightly smaller than queen bee but bigger the worker bees:

Their functions in the hive are:

 To fertilise the queen
 To control the temperature or to cool the hive. This they do, by flapping their wide
wings at a very high speed.
Normally, the drones are killed by the workers after fertilizing the queen, especially
when there is food shortage.
The worker bees: are females but much smaller than the queen bee. There are about
60,000 worker bees in an ordinary colony. The worker bee does the followings functions
in the hive.
 Feed the queen, the drones and the brood( young bees)
 Protect the hive from intruders
 Collect nectar, pollen, gum and water
 Build comps and seal the cracks and crevices in the hive
 Clean the hive
 Make the honey and bees wax

10.2 Siting of the Apiary and Hive

An apiary: - is a place where bee hives are laid. In Siting apiary the following factors
are considered:
 Safety of human beings and livestock. Since bees can be dangerous; the apiary should be
sited away from homestead.
 The quietness: the apiary should be located in a place that is free from noise and other
disturbances.
 Water availability: water should be available within a radius of three kilometers.
 Availability of flowers: these are the major sources of food or nectar.
 Protection from harsh weather conditions.
 Safe from predators and pests such as ants etc.

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Stocking the bee hive:
This is the act of encouraging the bees to enter an empty hive or actually putting bees in
the hive.

Methods used to stock hives include:

a. Using swarm net:
A swarm net is made by fixing a strong wire ring to a
bamboo pole. A piece of mosquito netting is sewn on to
the ring, catching such swarm of bees should be done
when it is dark or during cold weather. The trapped bees
are then transferred to a hive.

b. Use of a catcher box:

A catcher box is small hive that is movable. It’s kept where
it’s likely to attract bees. Old combs and wax are put in it to
attract bees. A week after bees have occupied it, they are
transferred to the main hive.

c. Placing the hive in a strategic place:

The hive should be placed in a permanent place and wait for swarming bees to occupy it.
Some old combs and wax are placed near the hive to attract the swarming bees.

N.B: In transferring bees from the net or the box after catching them, it is important to know that
on a slopping surface, they always move upwards. The hive is placed at a higher position then
the box containing the swarm is connected by sloping board. A few smokes should be used
towards the swarm which makes bee move towards the hive on their own.

Swarming of Bees
A swarm of bees: is a colony or part of it that is in flight breaking away from the original
colony
Bees swarm because of the following reasons.
 Shortage of food and water in their surroundings.
 Outbreak of diseases and parasites.
 Damage of brood combs.
 Lack of adequate ventilation.
 Dampness and bad smells.
 Sick or infertile queen.
 Over-crowding.
 The existence of new queen.

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If the swarming is due to existence of anew queen, the new queen leads the flight flying
vertically and followed by the drone. It is during the flight that mating takes place. This
first flight is called nuptial or mating flight.

If swarming is due to unfavourable conditions in the hive, this is referred to as

absconding. Whenever the case, after leaving the hive:

- Bees a light on some branch over night or for a period of time.

- Scouts are sent out to look for a possible suitable place where they make a new home
or hive.
- On returning, the scout, or the messenger bees make a dance that displays or indicates
the direction and the distance of the new home.

Types of hives
 Traditional hives ( log hive)
 Natural hives
 East Top Bar hives
Materials collected by bees
 Nectar: - this is juice collected from flowers. It is used as their main food and in making
honey. Worker bees swallow it into their stomach where it is acted upon by enzymes then
regurgitated back and stored in the cells of the comb.
 Pollen: - this is collected from flowers. It is collected in special “pollen baskets” found on
the feet of the bee. It is then brushed off in to empty cells. It contains 30% proteins and is
used by the bees to feed the brood and the queen.

Beeswax is produced by a pair of glands in the worker bee’s abdomen that exude. Worker bees
use it to manufacture honey. Honey combs that used to raise the young brood and store.

10.3 Bee keeping and Management

MANAGME
Management system of beekeeping is a method or set of methods, that has been determined to
be an effective and practical means of improving honey bee health and reducing colony risks.

BMPs are specific steps and actions that beekeepers can take to protect their bees at any scale,
from single colony to commercial apiaries, as described in this guide. Whether you are just
starting as a beekeeper or have years of experience, you’ll find that this guide offers valuable
Best management practices (BMPs) on many topics including

 Safety
 apiary and hive set up
 pesticide exposure
 treatment of parasites and bee diseases
 queen health, bee breeding and stock selection
 bee nutrition

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SEASONAL MANAGEMENT
Pollen and nectar are colony available for a limited time. When the surplus food sources are
available it is known as honey flow season. In contrast during the dearth period food will be
scarce. During extremes in a climate like summer, certain specific management tactics are
required.
Honey flow season management
This season coincides with spring. During this
 provide more space for honey storage by giving comb foundation sheet or built combs
 confine queen to brood chamber using a queen excluder
 prevent swarming as described in swarm management
 provide sugar syrup and build a sufficient population before honey flow
 divide strong colonies in to 2-3 new colonies if colony multiplication is needed
 queen rearing technique may be used to produce new queens for new colonies
SEASONAL MANAGEMENT OF HONEY BEE COLONIES

10.4 Honey management

Honey is sweet viscid substance made by bees from nectar and stored in their nests or hives as
food. Honey has been used as food a food and medicinal since ancient times.
Importance of honey
Honey is a great way to add sweetness to your diet. Honey’s value stems not only from its
distinct flavour and sweetness but also from its health benefit. Raw honey should be used to get
the most out of the health advantages.
honey has health values benefits that include controlling cholesterol levels, managing diabetes,
treating gastric problems, fighting infections , boosting fighting asthma, removing dandruff and
enhancing skin health.
NB. In handling bees always wear protective clothing. These are veil, an overall, gloves
and gum boots as shown below.

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1. Honey harvesting
Honey is harvested in the morning or late in the evening when bees are less active.
When harvesting honey, the honey collector should follow these steps.
(i) Put together the equipment used in harvesting honey. These include:
 Protective gear to avoid bee stings
 A honey container with a tight cover. This can pail or bucket which is used to hold the
honey combs as they are being harvested.
 A hive tool: this is a piece of iron flatted it is used to scrape away the Propolis holding
the top bars together, thus separating them and to cut off the honey comb in to the honey
container. it sharpened at one end to look like screw driver
 Bee brush: this is an ordinary soft brush with a long handle used to brush off bees from
the honey combs before cutting it into the container. the bees are brushed back in to the
hive
(ii) Quietly approach the hive and blow smoke around the hive and later through entrance
holes using a smoker. On sensing danger (fire) bee start eating honey thus becomes heavy
and inactive.
(iii) Lower the hive to the ground.
(iv) Cut the honey combs from each top 3 cm from surface and put them in a clean container
rubbing off the bees using a twig. Brood combs are not harvested.
(v) Place back the bars and don’t disturb the brood.
(vi) Return the hive to its positions
Honey Processing
Heat method, crushing and straining honey, and using a centrifugal
extractor are the three methods commonly used in processing honey
1. Heat method
 Water is heated in an appropriate container.
 An enamel basin containing the honey combs, or any other container not
madder of iron, is placed over the boiling water.
 Heating is done until most of the honey melts.
 The melted honey is strained through a muslin cloth.

 Honey is kept in a container to cool down.

 The wax layer forming on the surface of the honey is removed.

2. Crushing and straining method

Crushing method produces the highest quality honey. Here:

o Honey combs are crushed and strained into an enamel basin using a muslin
cloth.
o Wax scum that may form on top of the strained honey is removed using a
wooden spoon.
o Honey is stored away in suitable containers such as plastic or glass jars.
3. Centrifugal extract method
This method uses the principle that at a high spinning speed vessel in large scale
honey production, honey combs are placed in the chamber of the extractor and the
rotary motion forces honey out of the combs and it is drained away for storage