AU680873B2 - Bee food containing inactive Bakers yeast and method of feeding - Google Patents

Description

L I 1 BEE FOOD CONTAINING INACTIVE *0 BAKER'S YEAST AND METHOD OF FEEDING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of bee-keeping and to a composition for use as a pollen substitute or nutritional supplement for bees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bee-keeping for honey production is an important economic activity in many countries. It has long been known that the basic dietary constituents of adult bees are, in nature, pollen and nectar which they convert to honey. Nectar or honey provide energy sources. Pollen provides proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients and has been considered essential for growth of emerging bees.

When shortage of pollen occurs as a result of seasonal changes or other conditions, foodstocks ~neR WO094/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 2 within the bee hive are depleted as also are nutrients stored in the body tissue of individual bees. Continued shortage of fresh natural pollen can have serious consequences including colony attrition (as a result of both reduction in oviposition, increased susceptibility to disease, and reduction in longevity), reduction in honey production, and often in the loss of whole colonies. In some areas of the world, the entire bee population regularly fails to survive winter and must be replaced by importation in the spring. To date, no economic biologically effective long term pollen substitute has been found. However, it has been widely practiced to provide bees with various types of supplement in an effort to promote colony growth and development during early spring, to overcome population losses due to pesticide or disease or other natural causes, to produce a colony for package production, to overcome autumn collapse in the queen or drone production and for other specific purposes. The supplement is typically placed inside the hive on trays, or as patties, or is provided via a dispensing feeder or (undesirably) via external trays.

Many suggestions have been made for pollen feed supplements for the above purposes or to sustain bees during periods of inaQaequate pollen supply or

I

WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 3 for situations, such as transport, in which pollen may be unavailable. Mostly such substitutes have been based on chemical analysis of nectars and pollens and on attempts to dup±icate these natural foods. However, as there is a wide spread of chemical compositions of pollen in nature (and as the composition of pollens varies between flora, between seasons for a particular pollen, and with other environmental factors) there is no clear desiderata for an "imitation pollen".

Typically, substitutes proposed to date include one or more of the following proteins:- soy flour, lactic yeast, brewers' yeast, torula yeast, skimmed milk powder, casein, and fish meal. U.S. Patent 4,386,107 describes a pollen substitute in which a mixture of lactic yeasts, vegetable protein and egg protein is proposed. However, it has been found that while some proteins appear useful, others of similar composition inexplicably have been unsuitable or even fatal. For example fish meal has been raported to be satisfactory while meat meal, linseed meal and peanut meal have not. Pea-protein and rapeseed meal have given discouraging results.

Brewers' yeast has been reported to give best results as the expensive medicinal grade in one study while yeast protein has been reported to be deficient in amino acids in comparison with pollen WO 94/17674 PCTIAU94/00063 4proteins in another. While some voy products support brood rearing, others do not. Thus the success or failure of a composition for feeding bees cannot be predicted.

In addition, some studies have shown that bees are unable to distinguish between proteins on the basis of nutritional value and appear to be attracted by odours. There is thus reason to believe that organoleptical properties of a proposed food supplement are important. The success or failure of a composition as a bee food thus can only be determined by extensive trial and error in the field.

Lactic yeast and torula yeast have previously been used in bee foods. Brewer's yeast may be substituted for torula yeast but is reported to be less effective. Recent studies Florida honey-bee feeding study using the Beltsville Diet", Bee Science (1991), 1 72 76] found no conclusive difference between a colony fed on a torula yeast/sucrose/lactalbumin diet and one which was not.

In general, prior bee foods and supplements have been relatively expensive and for the most part of limited utility or questionable benefit.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 5 provide an improved method for apiculture for use in situations in which natural pollen is in short supply or inconvenient to provide, or in which it is desirable to increase gathering of pollen and/or nectar. A further object is to provide an improved pollen substitute or a supplement which avoids or at least ameliorates some deficiencies of prior art.

Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a novel food composition which is both nutritious and I' acceptable to bees.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect the invention consists in a method of apiculture comprising the step of providing to a colony of bees a bee food or supplement characterised in that it comprises inactive baker's yeast. Preferably the selected inactive baker's yeast is unsalted and dried ("UDIBY"). Desirably the selected inactive baker's yeast is in combination with one or more added carbohydrates, for example sugar and/or honey. For preference, the composition also includes a sterol such as cholesterol, and salt. The composition may optionally contain other proteins, pollen, and other supplements.

According to a second aspect the invention consists in a composition for use in apiculture characterised in that it comprises inactive baker's WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 6 yeast.

Although brewer's, torula and lactic yeast have previously been used, it has hitherto been widely believed that baker's yeast was unsuitable for use in a bee food. Indeed extensive tests by the present inventor have confirmed that common forms of baker's yeast such as active dried, "compressed", "Crumble" and "Cream" baker's yeast are either unacceptable to, or are fatal to, bees. It was therefore a particularly surprising discovery that selection of inactive baker's yeast as a food or supplement component is not only acceptable to bees, but in preferred embodiments provides a substantial increase in honey production, brood area, and pollen area. These benefits are obtained not only in comparison with other forms of baker's yeast, but also in comparison with other yeasts such as brewer's yeast or torula yeast.

According to a third aspect the invention "i consists in a method of apiculture comprising the steps of: providing a colony of bees with a first composition comprising at least one protein and at least one added sugar, wherein the total crude protein expressed as a percentage by weight of the combined weight of crude protein and added sugar defines'a first percentage, and -7 subsequently providing the colony with a second composition comprising at least one protein and at least one added sugar wherein the total crude protein expressed as a percentage by weight of the combined weight of crude protein and added sugar defines a second percentage, and wherein the second percentage is greater than the first percentage.

Desirably in a method according to a third aspect, the added sugar is pure icing sugar or honey 0: or more preferably is a combination thereof.

0 00 The protein is, or comprises, inactive baker's *too yeast and most preferably comprises unsalted dried inactive baker's yeast.

In the past, bee food compositions comprising sugar and protein have been fed to a bee colony as a mixture of predetermined protein content which does not vary from week to week. The present inventor has found that by presenting the bee colony with a ratio of protein to added sugar which increases from a low level to a higher level of protein, and preferably by increasing the protein content in 0 successive stages over a period of weeks, that many beneficial effects are obtainable including a substantial increase in honey production and brood area. A method according to this third aspect of the invention is applicable with proteins other than inactive baker's yeast for example torula yeast or I i; id LIII WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 8 brewer's yeast but provides the greatest benefit when the protein is or comprises inactive baker's yeast.

BEST MODE FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly desc .bed by way of example only with reference to various specific formulations.

As hereiL. used, the term "apiculture" is used generally to include the rearing of bees and/or the production of honey.

A composition according to the invention comprises inactive baker's yeast, and more particularly inactive dried baker's yeast.

Advantageously the baker's yeast is unsalted, rolled, dried, inactive baker's yeast such as that sold by New Zealand Food Industries Limited, and available in Australia from Mauri Foods. The preferred yeast for use in the invention is made from baker's yeast grown by non-alcoholic propagation on molasses and inactivated by pasteurization. An analysis of a preferred yeast is as shown in Table 1 (appended). The inventor has found that if the baker's yeast selected is not inactivated it can be harmful or even fatal to bees and does not provide the benefits of the invention.

It is preferred to utilize inactive dried baker's yeast as the sole protein but if desired the WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 9 bee food may also contain one or more other sources of protein, for example brewer's yeast, torula yeast, lactic yeast, pollen, soy flour or the like.

However it is preferrtL that at least 50%, and more preferably at least 75%, by weight of the total crude protein of the composition is supplied by inactive baker's yeast.

Because the analysis of amino acids and the total amount of protein varies from one protein source to another it is usual to report the protein content of a yeast as "crude protein". Crude protein is determined by Kjeldahl analysis for nitrogen and multiplying the weight of nitrogen by a factor of 6.25. The result is reported as "crude protein". The percentage of crude protein in a yeast is reported on the basis of oven dry weight unless otherwise specified.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of compositions according to the invention, the selected protein is combined with one or more sugars such as icing sugar (sucrose) or honey or a combination of sugar and honey or similar carbohydrates. Yeast itself contains some endogenous carbohydrate. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to carbohydrates or sugars refer to substances which are combined with the yeast and are exogenous to the yeast.

c WO 94117674 PCT/AU94/00063 10 References to the combined weight of crude protein and carbohydrate refer to the sum of the weight of crude protein and of added sugars (or of added other carbohydrates). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that sugar constituents of honey (sucrose, fructose) or invert sugar can to a degree be used as a substitute for honey. Compositions according to the invention desirably also contain a sterol such as cholesterol and salt (sodium chloride). Other ingredients may optionally be present such as vitamins, minerals, antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.

Typical compositions for use in accordance with the invention are shown in Table 2 (appended) and are identified as compositions A to G respectively.

Table 3 (appended) shows the data of Table 2 expressed for each composition as a percentage of total weight of the composition. Table 3 also shows the crude protein content expressed as a percentage by weight of the total weight of composition. The crude protein contert is also shown as a percentage of the combined weight of crude protein, and added sugar for each of compositions A to G. For the latter purpose, it is assumed that 75.4% by weight of the honey is glucose, fructose or other sugars.

Use of the compositions in various situations in accordance with the method of the invention is WO 94/17674 PCTIAU94/00063 11 exemplified as follows.

It is highly desirable to commence feeding the bees with a composition such as A or A' to accustom the bees to a new food source.

Compositions A and A' contain from about 1.8% to about 4% by weight of the total composition of crude protein.

In a case where a colony has been without nectar or pollen flow, and the bees are weak, the bees are fed initially with composition A. For a hive with a population ranging from 7,000 to 20,000 bees, approximately 1 to 3 litres and preferably about 1.3 to 1.5 litres is initially provided. The composition may for example be provided via a frame feeder, or may be poured or sprayed into cells.

In a typical feeding program the quantity of composition A provided will be sufficient for about one week although it may be consumed earlier.

the end of the first week the bees will then provided with composition B. Composition B contains about 9% by weight of the total composition crude protein. At the end of the second week the bees will be provided with composition C (16% by weight of the composition of crude protein). The bees will be fed with compositions C for at least a week and preferably until nectar is flowing which may be after several weeks. Once nectar is flowing, the cl WO 94117674 PCT/AU94/00063 12 bees are provided with compc ion E (19 21% by weight of the compoition of crude protein) if required.

If in the initial stage the bees have consumed all of composition A in less than 7 days, then composition B may be provided earlier. On the other hand if the bees seem unusually weak at the end of the first week, prov.',sion of composition A may be prolonged. It is in any case desirable that in the second period the bees are offered a choice of composition A along with composition B rather than composition B exclusively. Likewise if during the second week composition B is consumed efficiently, then composition C may be provided at an earlier date than the end of the second week. On the other hand if the bees remain lethargic after the consumption of composition B then the provision of composition B may be prolonged.

If nectar flow or pollen flow is still delayed, provision of composition C may be continued until fresh nectar is flowing.

It has been found that bees show, on average, an increase in weight when fed in this way. In addition, it has been found that bees fed on the diet increase pollen storage and honey production.

The bees appear to like the food, but if in a stressed condition may need to be provided with WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 13 composition A before accepting too much protein and the protein intake is increased progressively.

Compositions A and A' are liquids.

Compositions B, C, D and E are thick pastes while composition F is a loose or compressed powder.

Composition G is a premix which is intended for combination with honey by the beekeeper to produce composition C.

in circumstances in which the bees are collecting pollen but have been without, or with little, nectar it appears that the bees have a lower requirement for protein and a higher requirement for carbohydrates and in that case use of composition A may be extended over a longer period. This can also occur if the pollen is inferior.

In circumstances in which the bees have access to nectar but little or no pollen, then they may start on composition C for a week until feeding is established and then progress to composition E for a week and then composition F. This is also applicable if available pollen has a low protein level or is unacceptable to the bees.

In circumstances in which there is a feeding nucleus colony, it is practiced in the prior art to feed the nucleus colony with sugar and water.

According to the present invention, nucleus colonies are instead fed initially with composition A and WO 94/17674 PCTIAU94/00063 14 subsequently with composition B and then C, the protein level increasing at intervals of around 1 weeks' duration.

In circumstances in which it is necessary to feed a disease free but weakened colony then treatment might involve feeding progressively with compositions A, B, C, E and F.

In circumstances in which the apiarist is building up queen raising colonies, the apiarist would again start with composition A and then B.

Winter feeding (with little or no flying) would start with composition A but then switch to composition B and maintain composition B or C until flying increases.

In the case of diseased colonies (excluding American Foul Brood) after disease eradication procedures are underway, the colony is fed with composition A over a period of approximately two weeks and then in succession for approximately one week with composition B, composition E, and finally if the colony is strong enough with composition D.

In the case of colony build up after a winter flow with good pollen or where some pollen is available, the bees may be fed with composition C from the outset, but if pollen is deficient during the flow then strong hives would be fed with compositions E or F.

i -aC- i ~lb "II~ WO 94/17674 PCTtAU94/00063 15 During a pollen flow it may be desirable to supplement the bee's diet with e.g. composition C to increase pollen stores or harvest pollen. As mentioned above, the storage of pollen is greatly increased with this supplementary use. Similarly composition C, E and F may be used to feed package bees, and queen cages.

In terms of the weight of crude protein expressed as a percentage of the combined weight of S crude protein and added sugar, composition A contains from 1.5 to 9.5% and more preferably from to 7.5% of crude protein, composition B contains in excess of 9% crude protein and preferably from about 9 15%, composition C contains in excess of and preferably from 15 25% of the combination as crude protein.

The crude protein content of compositions D G is preferably in excess of 25% of the combined weight of crude protein and added sugars.

It is preferred that compositions according to the invention contain cholesterol although other sterols which are known to be safe for bees, e.g.

24-methylene-cholesterol, may be used. However the present inventor has found that excessive quantities of cholesterol appear to be harmful to the bees and in this connection it needs to be kept in mind that there may be some cholesterol in other of the II I s- _I WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 16 ingredients used. Accordingly, the total cholesterol content of the composition should not be excessive. Desirably the sterol is omitted from initial composition A' and is maintained in the subsequent compositions B to G in a range of from 0.01 to 0.10% by weight preferably increasing slightly as the crude protein levels increase.

Likewise the use of supplemental salt has been found to be advantageous but excessive use seems harmful and accordingly salt levels should be kept low until bee strength is adequate. It appears that the salt should be maintained at a level of between 0.03% and 0.3% by weight of the composition when the yeast of Table 1 is used.

Treatments according to the invention result in larvae numbers and health being maintained at a satisfactory level. Furthermore, the adult bee maintains a satisfacto r fat/protein level while maintaining normal cluster warmth/heat. In addition the adult bees maintain a satisfactory fat/protein level while feeding the larvae during a dearth of natural pollen. When the method of the invention is employed the brood cluster area is not reduced due to lack of heat produced by adult bees. It has been generally found that natural pollen stores in hives collected by bees which are being fed according to the invention, particularly on compositions B, C and C P6 ~b~ WO 94/17674 PCT/AU94/00063 17 E, is greater than in hives which are not being so fed. The colony strength builds up faster in those hives and the bees are more resistant to disease.

The composition of the invention maintains a normal longevity and does not adversely affect queen quality but rather enhances queen raising operations.

The data of Table 4 (appended) indicates the beneficial results obtainable by the methods of the invention and/or by means of compositions herein described in trials conducted in widely different geographic locations.

In both trials care was taken to include a group of similar hives having queens of less than one year old and from the same genetic queen and having approximately the same overall brood area.

Other hives were selected as having approximately the same overall brood area. In Trial 2 most of the colonies were initially in very poor condition.

Approximately 6% contained no brood and about contained no pollen.

In summary, groups of four hives were either not fed at all ("unfed" controls) or were fed with A followed by B; A followed by C; A followed by E; or A followed by F; where A to F refer to compositions defined in Table 2. Feeding was continued for three months.

Trial 2 was conducted along similar lines to 18 trial i. The results of both trials, extrapolated to 600 hives to facilitate comparisons, are shown in Table 4 (appended).

In total, the value of production from an apiary (honey bees pollen) obtained from the fed hives averaged in excess of twice that obtained from the unfed hives at prevailing prices. In addition in all trial areas it was found that the fed apiary hives continued to yield better performance than unfed hives 06 *o 6* after feeding ceased. Australia is one of the highest 0 honey yielding areas of the world and even greater improvements in production might be obtainable in 0 lower yielding areas.

The results of a trial in which bee colonies were provided with composition A followed by one of compositions B, C, E or F (as defined in Table 2) is eg 6@ summarized in Table 5 (appended).

It can be seen that A C produced the greatest increase in honey production and brood area while pollen area increased from B to E as the wt. 0 inactive baker's yeast increased.

The effect of inactive baker's yeast in comparison with torula yeast and brewer's yeast was measured by feeding nucleus colonies each containing the same number of frames of honey and of brood and isolating the colonies in a pollen free environment over 35 days. The colonies were fed with WO 94/17674 PCTIAU94/00063 19 composition A followed by composition C as described in Table 2 except that in sample To inactive dried food grade Torula yeast was substituted for the IDBY, and in sample Br inactive dried brewer's yeast was substituted for the IDBY in both compositions A and C. In each case the crude protein content of the respective yeast was about 48%.

The number of cells having cell eggs and larvae were counted.

At the conclusion of the trial there was honey and food remaining in the fed colonies. In the unfed colonies there was honey and no food, and no brood area, eggs or larvae.

SThe results are summarized in Table 6 and show that inactive baker's yeast provides a significant improvement over the other yeasts tested.

Reference has previously been made to the Sanford Johnson nutritional study reported in Bee Science (1991) 1(2) 72-76 which showed that of pairs of hives fed with a combination of lactalbumin, torula yeast and sucrose there was no significant difference between fed and unfed hives.

In contrast, the results obtained with the present invention show very substantial increases in honey production, pollen area and brood area.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention thus provide a food which is highly palatable to I WO 94/17674 PCTAUI94/00063 20 bees and which results in a substantial increase in the yield of honey. The feed also improves the efficiency of queen bee raising and improves or has no apparent detrimental effect on the longevity of individual bees. In one trial, queen raising hives fed with compositions according to the invention produced three times as many queen cells as unfed hives.

It has been thought that prior art pollen substitutes could not be fed to bee colonies over a sustained period without adversely affecting brood raising and/or queen rearing.

However, brood rearing was sustained in colonies isolated in a pollen-free environment and fed with composition C and E according to the invention in a test of 59 day duration.

Three months after return to a normal environment the colonies appear to have been unaffected and were progressing normally.

The preferred composition according to the invention is stable, can be prepared as a dry premix, for example as shown in composition G and is far less costly than irradiated pollen. Provided that disease-free honey is used, the dry pre-mix can be combined with honey by a beekeeper using his own honey.

While the method of the invention is preferably WO 94117674 PCT/AU94/00063 21 used in conjunction with the compositions of the invention it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the teaching hereof that the method may be applicable with compositions containing other forms of protein and/or carbohydrate than those disclosed in the preferred embodiments hereof. For example brewers' yeast or torula yeast may be substituted in whole or in part for the inactive baker's yeast herein described when using the method of the invention. Other sugars may be substituted in whole or in part for cane sugar. Pollen may be combined with compositions herein disclosed and so on. The scope of the invention extends to include other embodiments which are obvious from the disclosure herein contained.

WO 94/17674 PTA9/06 PCT/)kU94/00063 22 TM~LLJ3 ANALYSIS OF PREFERRED I1AC13M BAKER'S YMST moisture S~r max~ Viable Count Less than 300 X 10 3 /gm Protein 45-50%k w/w Phosphate 2.3-2.7 w/w dry solids basis TIyical-Analysis: Lysine 4.8 6.4% w/w Histidine 1.8 2.8* w/w Arginine 2.1 4.3t w/w Threonine 3.5 5.0% w/w Valine 2.9 5.5% w/w Methionine 1.7 2.5% w/w Iso Leucine 3.6 w/w Leucine .3.8 7.9k w/w Tyrosine 2.2 4.2V w/w Phenylalaxiine 2.8 4.4%.,w/w Tryptophan 1.2 .%w/w Cystine 1.3% W/W Vitamin Bi 150 micrograms/gram Vitamin B2 50 i Niacin 250 Calcium 200 Iron 80 Para Amino Benzoic Acid Biotin Choline 3500 Inositol 4000 Pantothenic Acid 150 Pyridoxine Potassium dry solids basis Magnesium 0.2k dry solids basis Sieve Analysis: Sieve Number 25 1-5 k Retained Sieve Number 35 6-17 %Retained Seive Number 60 63-73 %Retained Seive Number 60+ 13-18 %Retained TABLE 2 EXEMPLARY COMPOSITIONS Composifion A B C D II E F G SUCROSE Kg 2.16 1.81 1.00 1.00' 1.00 1.00 1.00F 1.00 HONEYf Kg'- 0.98 0.5-0 3.00 3.00 3.50 3.00 a!3 aofl Kg 0.16 0.30 1.00 2.00 3.00 3.00 2.001_ 21M~ CHOLESTEROL Kg 0.0005 0 0.0029 0.0029 0.0029 0.0029 0.00291 0.0029 SALT Kg _0.0014 0 0.0087 0.0087 0.0087 0.0087 00b 0.0087 WATER Kg 1.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 fTTAL Kg-, 4.3019 3.6100 5~1~ 6.0116 7,5116 7.0116 4.1916 3.011i6 CRUDE PROTEIN 48% IOF U.D.I.B.Y. SUGAR IN HONEY 75.4% 1A0 0.-60 0- 0OA PROTEIN Kg 0.07CZ 0.1440 0.4800 0.9600 1.4400 140 .60 090 TOTALSUGAR _Kg 2i8989 __2.1870 3.2620 3.2620 3.6390 3.2620 1.8897 1.0000 U.D.I.B.Y. =Unsalted Wred Inactve Baker's Yeast TABLE 3 COMPOSITIONS OF TABLE 2 EXPRESSED AS WT% Composition A A' B C D E F G SUCROSE wt% 50.21 50.14 19.95 16.63 13.31 14.26 23.86 3a.20 HONEY ,wt 22.78 13.85 59.86 49.90 46.59 42.79 28.15 0.00 U.D.I. wt 3.72 8.31 19.95 33.27 39.94 42.79 47.71 66.41 CHOLESTEROL wt 0.01 0.00 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.10 SALT wt 0.03 0.00 0.17 0.14 0.12 0.12 0.21 0.29 WATER wt% 23.25 27.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 TOTAL COMP'N wt% 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100,00 100.00 CRUDE PROTEIN wt% 1.79 3.99 9.58 15.97 19.17 20.54 22.90 31.88 TOTAL SUGAR wt 67.39 60.58 65.09 54.26 48.45 46.52 45.08 33.20 CRUDE PROTEIN AS WT% OF PROTEIN SUGAR 2.58 6.18 12.83 22.74 28.35 30.63 33.69 48.98 U.D.I.B.Y. Unsalted Dried Inactive Baker's Yeast WO 94/17674 WO 9417674PCT/AU94/00063 25

BEES=-LEA

HoNEm YIELD xg ney~ Trial 1 Fed bees Unfed bees Trial 2 Fed bees Unfed bees 16, 950 8,250 44, 700 18,450 1,046 2,400 BROOD RAISING ROL YIELD Brood Area- (cm?) Rollen b=g_ (CM2) Trial I Fed bees Unfed bees Trial 2 F'ed bees Uinked bees 2,682,000 983,100 5,040,000 3, 549,8~00 685,200 452, 850 522,750 387,000 WO 94/17674 WO 9417674PCT/A1J94100063 26 TABLE EFFECT OF METHOD ACCORDING TO INVENTION GRP FOOD HONEY POLLEN BROOD INCREASE INCREASE cm sq. cn 1 A A' B 153.35 4025 26942 1B A' C 184.67 3485 33599 iC E 135.67 3303 30812 ID F 105.25 1523 25496 1 E NIL (CONTROL) 79.86 2580 23665 INCREASE RELATIVE CONTROL 1A A' B 92.02 55.01 13.85 1B A' +C 131.24 35.08 41.98 1 C A' E 69.88 28.02 30.20 ID A+ F 31.79 -40.97 7.74 NIL (CONTROL) 0.00 0.00 0.00 AVERAGEINCREASE. 81.24 19.53 23.44 WO 94/17674 WO 9417674PCTIAU94/00063 27 COMPARISON OFZ INACTI3E BAIISMT FOOD COMPOSITION WMhIER OF CEL ONANN EGG OR UNSEHALED LRA E 100O SO.Cm OF INITIAL-BROOD

AR~

A' C (Table 2) 24.2 To 11.9 Br 4.2 Active Baker's Yeast 0.0 Unfed 0.0

Claims (25)

1. A composition when used as an appetite stimulant or food supplement for bees and characterised in that it comprises inactive bakers yeast.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the composition comprises inactive dried bakers yeast.

3. A composition according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the inactive bakers yeast is unsalted.

4. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inactive bakers yeast is roller dried. 1

5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising one or more carbohydrates.

6. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a combination of one or more proteins with one or more added sugars and wherein the total crude protein content of the combination expressed as a percentage of the weight of said combination exceeds 9%.

7. A composition according to Claim 6 wherein the total crude protein content of said combination expressed as a percentage of the weight of said combination exceeds

8. A composition according to any one of claims 1 0 to 4 comprisinq a combination of one or more 29 proteins with one or more added sugars and wherein the total crude protein content of the combination expressed as a percentage of the weight of said combination comprises from 1.5% to

9. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least a major part of the total protein of the composition is supplied by inactive Baker's yeast. A cotrzposition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising sucrose.

11. A composition according to any one of the 0 preceding claims comprising honey, a honey constituent or an invert sugar.

12. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising honey or a honey constituent in combination with sucrose.

13. A composition according to Claim 12 wherein the ratio of sugar to honey is from 1:3.5 to 3.6:1.

14. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a sterol.

15. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising cholesterol.

16. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising salt.

17. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising pollen.

18. A composition according to Claim 1 and 30 substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the examples in Table 2.

19. A composition according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the ranges exemplified by Table 2. A composition which is palatable to bees and edible by bees without harm, said composition comprising inactive baker's yeast in combination with honey, a honey constituent or an invert sugar. o C. 21. A composition according to Claim 20 wherein the baker's yeast is inactive dried baker's yeast. o. 22. A method of apiculture comprising the steps of placing a composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 20 in or near a bee hive.

23. A method of apiculture comprising the steps of placing a composition according to Claim 8 in or oea. near a beehive and subsequently placing a composition according to Claim 6 in or near the beehive.

24. A method of apiculture which improves honey yield and/or brood area, comprising the steps of: providing a colony of bees with a first composition comprising inactivated baker's yeast and at least one added sugar, wherein the total crude -31 protein expressed as a percentage by weight of the combined weight of crude protein and added sugar defines a first percentage, and subsequently providing the colony with a second composition comprising at least one protein and at least one added sugar wherein the total crude protein expressed as a percentage by weight of the combined weight of crude protein and added sugar defines a second percentage, and wherein the second percentage is greater than the first percentage. A method according to Claim 24 further comprising the step of subsequently providing the colony with a third composition comprising at least one protein and at 10 least one sugar wherein the total crude protein expressed as a percentage by weight of 0 the combined weight of crude protein and sugar defines a third percentage, and the third percentage is greater than the second percentage. *0

26. A method according to Claims 24 or 25 wherein the first percentage is from 1 to 15 27. A method according to Claim 26 wherein the first percentage is from 2.5 to 28, A method according to Claims 24 or 25 wherein the second percentage is in excess of9%. 0

29. A method according to Claim 28 wherein the second percentage is from 9% to

30. A method according to Claim 25 whereii the third percentage is in excess of

31. A method according to Claim 30 wherein the third percentage is from 15 to

17315.80 Doc/WLS -32- 32. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 31 wherein at least a major proportion of the crude protein is supplied by yeast protein. 33. A method according to any one of Claims 25 to 32 wherein at least a major proportion of the crude protein is supplied by inactive dried baker's yeast. 34. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 33 wherein the sugar of the first composition comprises sucrose. 35. A method according to Claim 34 wherein the sugar of the first composition o* 0ee S*oat comprises icing sugar. o Ge 36. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 35 wherein the total sugar of the 10 first composition comprises at least 50% of sucrose. 37. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 36 wherein the second composition comprises a combination of sucrose with honey, a honey constituent or an r •invert sugar. 38. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 37 comprising sucrose and honey o a t 15 and wherein the weight ratio of sucrose to honey in the first composition is greater than in the second composition. a 39. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 38 comprising honey wherein the 0 bee colony belongs to an apiary and the honey is obtained from said apiary. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 38 wherein the first composition is provided at a rate of from 1.0 to 3.0 litres per 20,000 bees. 41. A method according to Claim 40 wherein the second composition is provided after the first composition is substantially fully consumed. 17315.80 Dod/WLS -33- 42. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 41 wherein the first composition is provided for at least 5 days before the second composition is provided. 43. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 42 wherein a third composition is provided after the second and while nectar or pollen are naturally available to the bees. 44. A composition for use in a method according to Claim 24 comprising from 1.79% to 9.58% by weight of crude protein and from 67.39% to 65.09% by weight of added sugar wherein up to 50% by weight of added sugar is honey sugar or invert sugar. 45. A method according to Claims 24 or 25 wherein the first composition is a bee food according to any one of claims 1 to 19. 10 46. A method according to Claims 24 or 25 wherein the second composition is a bee food according to claims 1 to 19. 47. A method according to Claim 25 wherein the third composition is a bee food according to claims 1 to 19. S' 48. A method according to Claims 24 or 25 and substantially as herein described with 15 reference to anyone of the examples. *el DATED this 24th day of APRIL 1997 PETER ROLAND RAMM Attorney: IAN T. ERNST Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS 17315is-,Doc/WLS -I INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No. PCT/AU 94/00063 A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER Int. Cl. 5 A23K 1/18, A23J 1/18, A23L 1/28 According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) IPC: A23K 1/18, A23J 1/18, A23L 1/18, C12N 1/18 Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched AU: IPC as above Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base, and where practicable, search terms used) DERWENT: (A23K A23J 1/18, A23L 1/28) keywords: BEE# AND (SUGAR# or HONEY OR SUCROSE) AND (PROTEIN# OR YEAST#) C12N 1/18 keywords: INACTIVE BAKER# YEAST#, CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to Claim No. Derwent Abstract Accession No. 86-124501/19, Class D13, SU 1187942-A (DAIRY IND RES INST) 30 October 1985 (30.10.85) X Abstract 1,2,5,6,8-10,14 Y Abstract 3,4,7,11-13 Derwent Soviet Inventions Illustrated, Section 1, Chemical, Vol, U, No. 28, Issued 16 August 1973, Food, Disinfectants, Detergents, page 1, SU 195415 (MASHEEVA) 1 February 1973 (01.02.73) X Abstract 1,2,5-10,14 Y Abstract 3,4 O Further documents are listed See patent family annex. in the continuation of Box C. Special categories of cited documents later document published after the international filing date or pritydate and not in conflict document defining the eneral state of the art which is with the application but cited to understand the not considered tobe ofparticular relevance principle or theory underlying the invention earlier document but published on or after the document of particular relevance; the claimed international filing date invention cannot be considered novel or cannot be document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) considered to involve an inventive step when the or which is cited to establish the publication date of document is taken alone another citation or other special reason (as specified) document of particular relevance; the claimed document referring to an oral disclosure, use, invention cannot be considered to involve an exhibition or other means inventive step when the document is combined document published prior to the international filing date with one or more other such documents, such but later than the priority date claimed combination being obvious to a person skilled in the art document member of the same patent family Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report 1 June 1994 (01.06.94) 5 \cA C Name and mailing address of the ISAIAU Authorized officer AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ORGANISATION PO BOX 200 WODEN ACT 2606 AUSTRALIA M. BREMERS Facsimile No. (06) 2853929 Telephone No. (06) 2832052 Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation of first sheet (July 1992) copljm I INTE RNATIONAL SEARCH RE PORT 1ntcrnationol application No, PCT/AU 94/00063 C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELE VANT Category Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate of the relevant passages "Nutritional Considerations in Choosing Protein and Carbohydrate Sources for use in Pollen Substitutes for Honeybees", by Yolanda Lehner, Journal of Apicultural Res, Vol. 22(4), pages 242-248 (1983). Refer to page 248 lines 8-12 Refer to Table I page 244 Relevant to Claim No. 24,26:32,35,37, 39,40,47 38,41-45 Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation of second sheet)(July 1992) copljm INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT international appilcation No. PCT/AU 94/00063 Box I Observations where certain claims were found unsearcha'le (Continuation of Item 1 of first sheet) This international search report has not established in respect of certain claims under Article 17(2)(a) for the following reasons: 1. Claims Nos.: S because they relate to subject matter not required to be searched by this Authority, namely: 2. r- Claim Nos.: because they relate to parts of the interarional application that do not comply with the prescribed requirements to such an extent that no meaningful international search can be carried out, specifically: D Claims Nos.: because they are dependent claims and are not drafted in accordance with the second and third sentences of Rule 6.4(a). Box II Observations where unity of invention is lacking (Continuation of item 2 of first sheet) This International Searching Authority found multiple inventions in this international application, as follows: 1. Claims 1-19: any composition comprising inactive bakers yeast. 2. Claims 24-35: a method of feeding protein and sugar compositions to bees. 3. Claim 47: a composition of any crude protein and sugar. See reasoned statement on extra sheet. 1. -i As all required additional search fees were tiw ly paid by the applicant, this international search report covers all searchable claims 2. -a As all searchable claims could be searched without effort justifying an additional fee, this S Authority did not invite payment of any additional fee. 3. As only some of the required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this international search report covers only those claims for which fees were paid, specifically claims Nos.: 4. No required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant. Consequently, this S international search report is restricted to the invention first mentioned in the claims; it is covered by claims Nos.: Remark on Protest The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest. No protest accompanied the payment of additional search fees. Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation of first sheet(l))(July 1992) copljm INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No. PCT/AU 94/00063 Supplemental Box Continuation of Box II The international application does not comply with the requirements of unity of invention because it does not relate to one invention or to a group of inventions so linked as to form a single general inventive concept, In coming to this conclusion the International Searching Authority has found that there are three inventions: 1. Claims 1-19 are directed to any composition comprising inactive bakers yeast. The "inactive bakers yeast" is the technical feature of these claims. 2. Claims 24-35 are directed to a method of feeding bees protein and sugar compositions in a stepwise fashion. The stepwise method in whish the protein content ofthe composition is increased is the technical feature of these claims. 3. Claim 47 is specifically directed to compositions that contain any crude protein and sugar where the sugar is up to by weight horey sugar or invert sugar. Since the abovementioned groups of claims do not share any of the technical features identified, a "technical relationship" between the inventions, as defined in PCT Rule 13.2 does not exist. Accordingly, the international application does not relate to one invention or to a single inventive concept. Form PCT/ISA/210 (extra sheet)(July 1992) copljm