Feeding and nutrition strategies in beekeeping: impact on colony health and honey quality
Authors
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Leonor Esther Cedeño Quiñonez
Instituto Superior Tecnológico Quinindé. Quinindé, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3309-2180
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Carlos Alberto Montaño Caicedo
Instituto Superior Tecnológico Quinindé. Quinindé, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7726-0738
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33936/la_tecnica.v16i1.8198Keywords:
apicultura, manejo nutricional, Apis mellifera, calidad de miel, productividad colonial.Abstract
Beekeeping in Quinindé canton, Esmeraldas province, represents a fundamental economic activity for rural communities; however, honey productivity and quality are affected by inadequate feeding and nutritional strategies for colonies. This research analyzed the impact of different nutritional protocols on the health of Apis mellifera colonies and the physicochemical quality of honey produced, through systematic bibliographic review of studies developed under similar agroecological conditions in Latin American countries. A qualitative-descriptive analysis was conducted on research published between 2005-2023, selecting studies on conventional feeding, supplementation with pollen and propolis, and protein substitutes under tropical conditions. Selection criteria included research conducted in Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and other regional countries with tropical and subtropical climate. The reviewed studies showed that colonies with supplemented feeding increase their population by 25-45% and reduce mortality by 30-50% compared to conventional management. Honey quality improves significantly in antioxidant content (25-40% higher) and antimicrobial activity (30-45% greater). Average production reported in literature increases from 20-30 to 35-45 kg·hive-1·year-1. These findings demonstrate that specific nutritional strategies optimize both colonial health and product quality, contributing to the sustainable development of local beekeeping and gene-rating added value for producers with characteristics similar to those of Quinindé.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Leonor Esther Cedeño Quiñonez, Carlos Alberto Montaño Caicedo
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