Viability of Cull Bee Brood (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) as an Additive in Chicken Feed for Enhanced Food Security

Abstract

There is insufficient knowledge by African beekeepers on how to utilize and integrate culled bee brood into their chicken feed or food systems instead of dumping broods as wastes. Culling out access bee brood combs, diseased, old combs with brood remains will reduce over reproduction of bee brood in the bee colony and hence improving hygiene in bee hive colony which will increase its fitness. African bee keepers regularly practice bee brood culling of unwanted, damaged, diseased and excessive combs with brood during production and harvesting periods and throw away culled bee brood Africa beekeepers. Therefore, this study came up with new ways on how to collect, process, utilize and integrate culled bee brood into chicken feeds as additives instead of throwing them away as wastes. This would create new production opportunity among bee keeper now and in the future as culled bee brood to be an alternative source of protein in chicken feeds systems leading to improved food security. The study was conducted in three districts of southwestern Uganda (Kiruhura, Mbarara, Rwampara). Current Nutritional composition and hygiene practice were analyzed after sampling practices and collection. Analyzed 966 culled bee brood combs from 46 beekeeper’s colony. Data was analyzed using r-statistical program. All assumptions for statistical tests were met. A total of seven (7) apiaries participated in cull brood removal sample from 46 bee hives from each district that was sampled making a total of 966 colonies. a repeated measures ANOVA both at beginning of the season and the end of the season was used to analyze the beekeepers’ data from different apiary yard in western Uganda and five (5) colonies (bee hive) from an on-farm trial experiment at Mbarara, Kiruhura, Rwampara western Uganda, three (3) treatment and two control were utilized. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze this data. Using computer aided software of R-statistical package for analysis. Results were presented in table form from different seasons from laboratory analysis. The study also adds to existing literature where some insects are used industrially for selling as seen with the Nsenene (grass hoppers) in Uganda and crickets and black soldier’s flies in western Kenya at Jaramongi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology. MP2 has the highest metabolizable energy with slightly less microbes, and average moisture content. This makes it a good choice of feeds with bee brood additives for the chicken.