How much do you know about Pollen?
- Adelaide Bee Sales
- Dec 29, 2021
- 1 min read
Updated: Dec 30, 2021
Good Bee Nutrition.
All animals, including humans and honey bees, require ten essential protein components (amino acids). Honey bees obtain all ten amino acids from pollen. Estimates of pollen collection by bees range from 10 to 25 kg per year. Pollen also supplies minerals, fats, vitamins and other elements essential for healthy bee development.
When diverse pollen is in short supply, severe conditions develop in the hive. Shortages result in reduced brood rearing, shorter-lived worker bees,
sperm formation in drones and much lower growth rates in the hive. The extreme scarcity of pollen eventually leads to hive death.
Pollens are complex materials. They have a hard protective coating (the exine). Inside are proteins, enzymes, vitamins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, minerals, and pigments. However, the most critical component to the beekeeper is pollen's protein content. Bees collected pollens vary from 7 to 35 percent protein.
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