how do you value bees

[derekm]

following on from the "Can you be cruel to bees" here is a bit more self exploration.
Hypothetical situation:
New highly credible repected  research has uncovered that an existing method used in bee keeping causes 10% reduction in life span or increase in mortality. Removing this practice will cause a 10% reduction in honey yeilds.

At the same time a  separate highly credible research testing a new method, has shown great promise in increasing honey yeilds by 10% at the cost of a 10% increase in individual bee mortality.

What will you do ?

[FRAMEshift]

A good flow increases the amount of honey collected while it shortens the life of the bees by making them fly more.  Remember that bees come with a 500 mile warranty on their wings.   :-D  When they have flown their alloted distance, the wings wear out and they die.  So the proposed "method" is no different from a good nectar flow.

[CapnChkn]

First I would read all I could about the technique, then leave the bees to do what they usually do.

[Michael Bush]

My main concern is that "pushing" the bees to new levels of production will stress them and they are already stressed.  My bet is any method that would do so would lead to a complete collapse eventually...

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

[Finski]

..
I renewed my beekeeping methods  7 years ago. I was proud of it. I got 80% more honey during 2 years.

Then I found that the whole country had got 80% more yield!


I mean, it is impossible to notice the meaning of method. Good yield comes from pastures, not from methods.

I have found continuosly that different pastures give 3 fold yields compared to others and the distance need not to be long, perhaps two miles.

How i treet my bees? I press every drop of blood from them!

.

[Country Heart]

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

:)

[Finski]

My main concern is that "pushing" the bees to new levels of production will stress them and they are already stressed.  My bet is any method that would do so would lead to a complete collapse eventually...

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

i have read about Australian beekeeping that they have so much pastures and such plant, that hives will sto brooding and trey collapse later. That is why they research bee nutrition.

Kiwi plant has no protein in pollen.

Alfa alfa pollen does not have all aminoacids and hives must stop brooding like in winter.

Some plant give so much nectar they hives must be moved to another place to recover. Nectar handling and capping are too heavy to bees if it continues too long. - So they believe.

****

then we have many ideas how bees  must nursed. Natural beekeepers are just great in that job. (§¤«£¿æ.com)

some leave hives under mercy of mites 

some kill hives before winter and bye new package bees in spring (no stress)

[JackM]

Good yield comes from pastures, not from methods.

\I think that sums things up very well

[T Beek]

Good yield comes from pastures, not from methods.

\I think that sums things up very well

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