The Effect of Commercial Propolis Production on Hive Profitability

This study was conducted to determine the effect of increased propolis production on overall hive profitability and productivity. The study took place near George situated in the Southern Cape region of South Africa. Standard Langstroth hives were used (n = 12) containing honeybee colonies of equal strength from the species Apis mellifera capensis. Propolis production in colonies equipped with commercial propolis traps (n = 6) was compared to propolis production in control colonies (n = 6). The strength of the hives was determined by calculating the area of worker brood cells and the number of frames containing bees. Propolis production, honey production, brood area, resin percentage, frames containing bees and income generated were measured on a monthly basis with the removal of the traps for an nine month period. There was no significant difference in honey production (24.66 ± 0.1kg and 26.53 ± 0.1 kg) and frames containing bees (18 ± 0.22 frames and 18.7 ± 0.20 frames) between the two groups for the nine-month period. However, brood area was significant (p < 0.05) with the control hives producing substantially more brood area than the trapped hives (3511.24 ± 3.96 cm vs 2554.17 ± 3.90 cm). Propolis quality and production was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in hives with the traps producing 75.6 ± 1.5 % resin and 361.87 ± 0.18g propolis compared to 64 ± 1.25 % resin and 36.1 ± 0.18g propolis in the control group. Hives containing propolis traps were significantly (p < 0.01) more profitable than the control group when honey and propolis income were pooled (385.09 ± 0.40 Rand vs 324.04 ± 0.42 Rand). Therefore the increased propolis production improved profitability of the hive without affecting overall hive productivity.