Supporting Colony Health and Productivity

Feeding and treatments in Kora provide comprehensive health intervention tracking. Document supplemental feeding during dearth periods. Record pest and disease treatments. Track withholding periods protecting honey safety. Monitor feed consumption and treatment effectiveness. Manage costs. Proper feeding supports colony survival during nectar shortages. Effective pest control prevents colony losses. Detailed records ensure food safety compliance and evidence-based treatment decisions.

This section explains how feeding programmes and treatments are documented. What safety protocols apply. How intervention tracking supports colony health.

Supplemental Feeding

Feeding supports colonies when natural forage insufficient:

When Feeding Needed: Spring build-up (supporting colony growth before nectar flows begin). Dearth periods (providing nutrition during summer nectar gaps). Fall preparation (ensuring adequate winter stores, 20kg+ honey per hive). Emergency feeding (preventing starvation when stores depleted unexpectedly). Swarm recovery (supporting newly established colonies without stores).

Feed Types Supported: Sugar syrup ratios (1:1 for spring, 2:1 for fall), pollen patties, pollen substitutes, honey, fondant (winter emergency feeding), dry granulated sugar, and other supplemental feeds.

Example feeding scenarios:

Spring Build-Up Feeding:
  Feed Type: Sugar Syrup 1:1 (equal parts sugar and water)
  Quantity: 2 litres per hive
  Date: 2024-03-20
  Reason: Early spring, colony expanding but nectar flow not yet started.
          Stimulative feeding to encourage brood rearing.
  Method: Top feeder (internal hive-top feeder)
  Notes: Fed all 18 hives in apiary. Checked 3 days later, feed mostly
          consumed. Colonies responding with increased brood production.

Fall Winter Prep Feeding:
  Feed Type: Sugar Syrup 2:1 (2 parts sugar, 1 part water - thick syrup)
  Quantity: 5 litres per hive
  Date: 2024-09-15
  Reason: Winter preparation. Hives assessed, several with insufficient
          stores (<15kg honey). Heavy syrup converts to winter stores quickly.
  Method: Frame feeder (in-hive feeder alongside frames)
  Check Date: 2024-09-22 (7 days later)
  Amount Consumed: 4.5 litres
  Days to Consume: 7 days
  Notes: Strong consumption. Repeat feeding scheduled if stores still
          insufficient after visual check.

Pollen Supplement:
  Feed Type: Pollen Patty (commercial pollen substitute)
  Quantity: 1 patty (500g)
  Date: 2024-04-10
  Reason: Spring build-up, pollen flow limited due to wet weather. Protein
          supplement to support brood rearing.
  Location: Placed on top bars above cluster
  Feed Accepted: Yes (patty consumed within 10 days)
  Notes: Colony responded well, brood production increased after pollen
          supplementation.

Feed Consumption Tracking

Monitoring how colonies use supplemental feed:

Consumption Information: Check Date (when feeder inspected after feeding). Amount Consumed (how much feed taken by bees). Days to Consume (rate of consumption). Feed Accepted (whether bees taking feed readily).

Example consumption tracking:

Feeding: Hive MV-007, September 20, 2024

Initial Feeding:
  Feed Type: Sugar Syrup 2:1
  Quantity Provided: 5 litres
  Date: 2024-09-20

Consumption Check 1 (One Week):
  Check Date: 2024-09-27
  Amount Consumed: 4.2 litres
  Days to Consume: 7 days
  Consumption Rate: ~600ml/day
  Assessment: Strong consumption, colony storing syrup as winter food.
               Additional feeding needed.

Total Fall Feeding:
  Total Provided: 10 litres
  Total Consumed: 8 litres
  Final Stores: Estimated 22kg (adequate for winter)

Consumption tracking prevents overfeeding and ensures colonies receiving adequate nutrition.

Pest and Disease Treatments

Recording treatments protects colony health while ensuring honey safety:

Treatment Targets Supported: Varroa mites, small hive beetles, American foulbrood, European foulbrood, Nosema, Tropilaelaps, wax moths, and preventative treatments.

Treatment Methods (brief mention as requested): Various treatment products and methods are supported including organic acids (formic acid, oxalic acid), essential oil treatments, mechanical methods, and other approved treatments. Product names, active ingredients, and application methods are documented.

Example treatment documentation:

Varroa Mite Treatment:
  Hive: MV-007
  Application Date: 2024-08-15
  Treatment Target: Varroa Mites
  Product Name: ApiLife Var
  Active Ingredient: Thymol (essential oil based)
  Method: ApiLife Var strips
  Dosage: 1 treatment strip per hive
  Number of Applications: 3 applications total
  Days Between Applications: 7 days between strip changes
  Application Method: Strip placed on top bars above cluster

  Environmental Conditions:
    Temperature: 24°C
    Weather: Warm, dry conditions (optimal for thymol evaporation)

  Withholding Period:
    Withholding Days: 42 days (no honey harvest during/after treatment)
    Withholding End Date: 2024-09-26
    Honey Safety: No supers on hive during treatment. Fall feeding only,
                   no honey production during withholding period.

  Treatment Completion:
    Completed: Yes
    Completion Date: 2024-08-29 (3 strips over 14 days)
    Post-Treatment Mite Count: 1 mite per 100 bees (excellent reduction)
    Effectiveness: Highly effective. Mite load reduced from 8 mites/100 bees
                    to 1 mite/100 bees.
    Adverse Effects: None observed

  Follow-Up:
    Next Mite Count: 2024-09-30 (verify treatment sustained effectiveness)
    Notes: Colony healthy, strong going into fall. Mite control successful.

Withholding Periods and Honey Safety

Ensuring treatments don't contaminate honey:

Withholding Period Tracking: Withholding Days (minimum time before honey harvest allowed after treatment). Withholding End Date (specific date when honey harvesting safe). Active Withholding Indicator (visual flag showing treatment period active).

Example withholding management:

Treatment Scenario - Summer Mite Treatment:

Problem: Varroa mite count 7 per 100 bees (above threshold)
Timing: July 20 (during active honey flow)

Treatment Decision:
  Decision: Apply oxalic acid treatment (short withholding period)
  Product: Oxalic acid vapour
  Withholding Period: 0 days (no residue in honey, immediate harvest safe)
  Justification: Selected treatment with no withholding for summer use
                  during active honey production.

Alternative Scenario - Fall Treatment:

Timing: September 15 (after honey harvest complete)
Treatment: ApiLife Var (42-day withholding)
Impact: No honey harvesting planned. Fall feeding will occur after
         withholding period ends. Withholding period not problematic
         for fall timing.

Safety Compliance:
  Withholding Periods Respected: Yes
  Honey Harvest Timing: All harvests comply with treatment withholding
  Record Keeping: Complete treatment records support honey traceability

Withholding tracking prevents accidental honey contamination ensuring food safety.

Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation

Assessing whether interventions successful:

Effectiveness Documentation: Treatment Effectiveness (qualitative assessment: excellent, good, moderate, poor, ineffective). Post-Treatment Monitoring (follow-up inspections or counts verifying success). Adverse Effects (any negative impacts on colony health).

Example effectiveness tracking:

Varroa Treatment Effectiveness Assessment:

Pre-Treatment Mite Count: 8 mites per 100 bees (threshold exceeded)
Treatment: Formic Acid (Mite-Away Quick Strips)
Application: 2024-08-10 to 2024-08-17 (7-day treatment)

Post-Treatment Assessment (2024-08-25, 8 days after treatment):
  Mite Count: 2 mites per 100 bees
  Reduction: 75% mite reduction (from 8 to 2 per 100 bees)
  Effectiveness Rating: Good
  Notes: Significant mite reduction. Level now below treatment threshold.
          Continue monthly monitoring to ensure sustained control.

Colony Health Post-Treatment:
  Queen Status: Laying normally (no treatment impact on queen)
  Brood Pattern: Solid (treatment did not affect brood development)
  Population: Stable (no bee losses from treatment)
  Adverse Effects: None observed
  Overall: Treatment successful with no colony harm.

Treatment Planning and Timing

Strategic treatment scheduling:

Timing Considerations:

Spring Treatments (March-May):
  Focus: Minimal treatments (avoid disrupting colony build-up)
  Acceptable: Brief treatments if emergency mite levels
  Avoid: Long withholding treatments during honey flow preparation

Summer Treatments (June-August):
  Challenge: Active honey production, withholding periods problematic
  Strategy: Use short/no withholding products if treatment urgent
  Alternative: Delay until post-harvest if mite levels tolerable

Fall Treatments (September-October):
  Optimal: Post-harvest, no withholding concerns
  Focus: Heavy mite treatment before winter cluster formation
  Goal: Low mite levels going into winter (critical for survival)

Winter Treatments (November-February):
  Limited: Oxalic acid vapour during broodless period
  Timing: Mid-winter, single treatment when cluster tight
  Benefit: Highly effective when no brood present

Cost Tracking

Recording feeding and treatment expenses:

Cost Information: Cost (expense per feeding or treatment). Currency (local currency). Cost per Unit (calculated cost efficiency).

Example cost tracking:

Feed Cost Analysis - Fall Feeding Programme:

Feed Type: Sugar (for making 2:1 syrup)
Total Sugar Purchased: 200kg
Cost: $120 (USD)
Cost Per Kilogram: $0.60/kg

Total Feed Produced: ~140 litres sugar syrup (2:1 ratio)
Cost Per Litre: ~$0.86/litre

Number of Hives Fed: 20 hives
Average Feed Per Hive: 7 litres
Cost Per Hive: ~$6.00

Total Fall Feeding Programme Cost: $120

Analysis: Cost-effective winter preparation. Alternative would be allowing
           hives to starve ($200+ replacement cost per hive). Fall feeding
           excellent return on investment for colony survival.

Treatment Cost Tracking:

Product: ApiLife Var strips
Cost: $60 for 10 hive treatments
Cost Per Hive: $6.00 per hive treated
Number of Hives Treated: 18 hives
Total Treatment Cost: $108

Value Assessment: Varroa control critical for winter survival. Cost per
                   hive ($6) far less than colony replacement ($200+).
                   Essential preventive investment.

Feed Quality and Preparation

Documenting feed preparation supporting consistency:

Preparation Information: Concentration (sugar-to-water ratio: 1:1, 2:1). Ingredients (feed components). Preparation Notes (how feed prepared).

Example preparation documentation:

Sugar Syrup Preparation - Fall Feeding:

Feed Type: Sugar Syrup 2:1
Concentration: 2 parts sugar : 1 part water (thick syrup)
Ingredients: 10kg white granulated sugar, 5 litres water
Preparation: Water heated to near-boiling. Sugar added gradually, stirred
             until fully dissolved. Cooled to room temperature before feeding.
             Thick syrup concentrates quickly in hive, converted to winter
             stores efficiently.

Quality: Feed accepted readily by all colonies

Pollen Patty Preparation:

Feed Type: Pollen Substitute Patty
Ingredients: Commercial pollen substitute powder, sugar syrup binder,
             brewer's yeast (protein supplement)
Preparation: Mixed pollen substitute with syrup to form pliable patty.
             Wrapped in wax paper, placed on top bars above cluster.

Integration with Inspection Records

Feeding and treatments link to hive inspections:

Inspection → Treatment Workflow:

Inspection (August 10): Varroa mite count 8 per 100 bees
  └── Decision: Treatment needed (above 3 mite threshold)
      └── Treatment (August 15): Formic acid application
          └── Follow-Up Inspection (August 30): Post-treatment mite count
              └── Result: 2 mites per 100 bees (treatment effective)

Complete audit trail from problem detection through treatment to effectiveness
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