black and white honey bee hovering near yellow flower in closeup photography

Productive Parameters in Beekeeping

Beekeeping isn't just about honey; it also yields other valuable products like beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, and propolis. These goods require specific conditions and management to maximize their output.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

7/2/20258 min read

Beekeeping isn't just about honey; it also yields other valuable products like beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, and propolis (1). These goods require specific conditions and management to maximize their output. Generally, the productivity of each colony is measured in physical units (kg of honey, kg of pollen, g of royal jelly, g of propolis, etc.) or in terms of population growth (brood area, number of bees). Each productive parameter is influenced by internal hive factors and external environmental conditions. Below, we'll describe the main bee products, the factors affecting their yield, how productivity indicators are evaluated, and practices to improve them.

Bee Products and Their Productivity Parameters

Honey

Honey is the sweet secretion obtained from nectar or honeydew that bees convert and store in capped cells. It's the most quantitative product of the hive. It's usually measured by weight (kg of honey per hive per harvest) (2). A strong, well-managed colony can typically produce tens of kilograms of honey per season (2, 3). However, actual production depends on numerous factors: apiary location and abundance of nectar-producing flora, local climate, installation date, and hive age, among others (4, 5). Studies in Mexico have identified apiary location, diversity of honey flora, and the time elapsed between hive installation and harvest as key strategic variables for honey yield (6). In practice, beekeepers control honey production by monitoring nectar reserves (frame filling), bee traffic, and the weight of supers. To measure it, it's common to weigh supers (boxes) before and after harvest. Useful indicators include the number of full honey frames and the percentage of capped combs. Proper management—such as adding space before a nectar dearth and replacing aging queens—maximizes honey collection.

Pollen

Bee pollen consists of floral pollen grains collected by bees, mixed with nectar and salivary secretions (7). It serves as essential protein food for the colony. It's commercially collected with pollen traps (grids at the hive entrance) that force bees to release much of the pollen from their corbiculae when entering the hive (8). The image shows a pollen trap at the hive entrance, where the bee collects pollen and deposits it into a collecting tray (8). A colony's pollen needs fluctuate (between about 10–55 kg/year according to studies) (9), but some of this pollen is consumed internally (brood growth). For reference, it's estimated that a worker bee consumes at least 65 mg of pollen in its lifetime (9). In beekeeping practice, pollen productivity is evaluated by the weight obtained from the traps (kg per hive/year). However, it's important to consider that traps only capture 10–50% of the collected pollen (10). An indirect indicator is the coverage of beebread (pollen stored in cells), which typically requires about 0.5–2 dm² of filled cells per day in a healthy colony (10). To improve collection, it's recommended to maintain vigorous colonies with young queens (more brood stimulates greater protein collection) (11), and to locate apiaries near crops or flora with abundant pollination.

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is the whitish secretion produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees (6 to 12 days old) (12). It nourishes larvae and especially future queens (who receive it 24/7 during their development). It's measured by collecting the weight of royal jelly extracted from queen cells after induction (preparation of artificial cells and grafting of larvae). Commercial yields are modest (grams per colony), though they vary by technique, season, and genetics. Recent studies show that the amount of available pollen and the number of nurse bees significantly influence yield: pollen-rich diets stimulate glandular development in worker bees and express key royal jelly genes, which increases total production; furthermore, a higher number of nurse bees increases the volume of collected royal jelly (12). In practice, royal jelly productivity is controlled by measuring grams per hive per season and the acceptance rate of larvae in queen cells. To improve production, colonies with high populations of nurse bees, supplementary protein feeding (pollen or protein patties), and selected strains of "Jata" or "royal jelly" bees with greater glandular capacity are used.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a complex mixture of organic lipids secreted by specialized glands in worker bees aged ~12-18 days (13). It's used to build brood and honeycombs. Yield is measured by weighing the wax obtained after processing cappings (wax layers removed during honey extraction) and melting old combs. Approximately 2.5–3 kg of wax are obtained for every 100 kg of extracted honey (14). In other words, bees consume about 8–10 kg of honey to produce 1 kg of wax (15). The figure shows a frame with a stamped beeswax foundation sheet, prepared to save the bee energy in comb building (16). To measure wax productivity, the weight of wax extracted after honey extraction (melted capping blocks) is compared to the weight of honey harvested. Another option is to record the number of old combs replaced. An indirect indication is the speed of new comb construction (a short time to draw out combs indicates a strong colony). Wax quality (absence of chemical impurities) is also evaluated during processing. To increase it, comb drawing is stimulated by adding foundation sheets (as in the image) and avoiding honey scarcity (because if the colony lacks reserves, it suppresses wax production).

Propolis

Propolis or "bee glue" is a resin collected from buds and tree bark, mixed with wax, which bees use to seal and protect the hive. It's obtained by scraping frames and hive entrances or using propolis traps. Its production is low: on average, a harvest of about 50–100 grams per hive per season is reported (17), though it varies enormously depending on climate and genetics. It's measured by weight (g/hive/year) after being collected dry. An indicator is the amount of cracks and spaces sealed inside the box; high accumulation indicates an abundant supply of resin. To improve it, traps with fine openings can be installed, which induce bees to plug them with propolis; likewise, locating hives near resinous sources (pines, eucalyptus) increases harvest potential (17).

Bee Nucs (multiplication unit)

Bee nucs (nucleus colonies) are small hives (few bees) with a young queen, used to reproduce colonies or sell live material. Although not a food "product," their production (number of nucs built per year) is an indicator of brood productivity. It's quantified by the number of brood frames and the total population reached in the nuc. A strong nuc (with many brood frames) demonstrates the apiary's reproductive capacity. To produce nucs, beekeepers usually divide populous colonies or raise selected queens. Thus, the nuc success rate (percentage of live nucs after the first season) is an indicator of health and genetics that can be improved with the selection of vigorous queens.

Factors Affecting Beekeeping Productivity

Beekeeping production is multifactorial.

Beekeeping management: Regular inspections, supplementary feeding, and swarm control directly influence productivity. For example, providing sugar syrup during periods of low bloom maintains brood growth and prevents reserve deficits.
Bee genetics: Different races or lines (ligustica, carnica, Africanized, local breeds) vary in laying intensity, docility, disease resistance, and swarming propensity, all of which alter productivity. High-laying queens increase population and therefore resource collection.
Feeding and nutrition: The availability of nectar (honey) and pollen in the environment is critical. The density and diversity of honey-producing flowers determine how much nectar and pollen reach the hives (5). Areas with monocultures can limit the bee's annual diet.
Climate and phenology: Temperature, rainfall, and humidity affect the phenology of nectar-producing plants and the flight activity of bees (18). Early frosts, very dry summers, or long winters reduce harvests. In general, a temperate and stable climate prolongs the flowering season and can increase honey production by ~20–30% compared to more extreme climates (19).
Apicultural flora: The distance to nectar/pollen sources (monofloral vs. multifloral honeys) and their flowering rhythm is decisive. Well-located hives near extensive blooms (citrus, alfalfa, sunflowers, sorghum, etc.) yielded significantly more honey (5).
Hive health: Pests (Varroa mites, harmful pupae) and diseases (Foulbrood, Nosema, viruses) affect the health and vigor of bees. Infested colonies reduce their laying and collection. Timely health control prevents production losses.
Hive type: The hive design (Langstroth, Dadant, Layens, Warré, horizontal hive) impacts ventilation, space, and ease of management. For example, a design with good ventilation reduces humidity and diseases, while the choice of format affects the ease of honey and wax extraction. Although there is no "single model," it is recommended to use the local standard hive (to facilitate inputs and management) and keep it in good condition.

In summary, the combination of these internal and external factors determines beekeeping yields (4, 20). Studies suggest that beekeepers should reflect on their management (reviewing location, nutrition, health, etc.) to design strategies that improve yield (21). For example, minimizing flight distance (moving hives to nearby blooms) or ensuring diversified nectar-producing flora are effective measures to increase productivity (5).

Measurement of Parameters and Productivity Indicators

To evaluate beekeeping production, quantitative and qualitative indicators are used. For honey, the main parameter is the weight of honey harvested per hive per season (kg/hive). In practice, supers (with honey) are weighed before and after extraction. For pollen, the pollen collected from traps is weighed (kg/hive/year). For royal jelly, the weight in grams of the pure substance extracted is determined. Wax is measured in kg once the wax from cappings and combs is melted, or as a proportion of honey (kg wax/100 kg honey) (14). Propolis is measured in grams per hive obtained from traps or by scraping.

Beyond specific products, a key indicator is colony strength. This is measured by estimating the adult bee population and the occupied brood area (22). Standard methods involve counting the number of frames with bees (or the percentage of cells occupied by bees) and existing brood cells (2, 22). These population parameters correlate with collection capacity: colonies with more bees and extensive brood tend to produce more honey and pollen (22). Other indirect indicators include flight activity (number of bees exiting per minute), the speed of comb construction, the capping pattern, and overall health (absence of disease symptoms). For example, the density of pollen stored in frames can reflect the colony's nutritional demand. In summary, measurements of physical yields (weight/volume of product) are combined with colony evaluations (resource supply, brood status) to monitor productivity.

Improving Beekeeping Productivity

To elevate productive parameters, it's crucial to optimize the factors described. In beekeeping management, it's recommended to regularly replace old queens with young ones (queens older than 2–3 years generally lay fewer eggs) and prevent swarming by adding space to the colony in a timely manner (23). Supplementary feeding (sugar syrups and protein patties) during periods of scarcity maintains colony growth. Genetic selection of bees with high laying rates and disease resistance improves long-term yields. A varied honey-producing flora should be favored by planting nearby crops and melliferous plants and moving hives to rich blooms when seasons change. Maintaining optimal sanitary conditions (controlling Varroa, Foulbrood, and others) ensures vigorous colonies. Finally, using hives in good condition with adequate ventilation and good internal hygiene (replacement of dirty combs) promotes bee well-being.

Together, the application of appropriate beekeeping practices has synergistic effects on production. As several studies conclude, beekeepers should "reflect on their beekeeping practices and design strategies" based on these factors to improve honey and overall yield (21). Improving food availability, bee genetics, and sanitary care will normally translate into larger harvests of all hive products.

Sources: This review is based on recognized studies and technical documents in beekeeping (4, 17, 20, 22, 24), which detail hive products, determining production factors, and measurement methods. The data and recommendations presented here are extracted from academic and institutional sources in the beekeeping sector.

(1) Bee products: providing nutrition and generating income - Honeybees, beekeeping and bee products in our daily lives

https://www.fao.org/fsnforum/consultation/bee-products-providing-nutrition-and-generating-income-honeybees- beekeeping-and-bee

(2, 22) bees.caes.uga.edu

https://bees.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/bee-program/images/research-archives/ JARStandardmethodscolonystrength.1.03.pdf

(3, 19) How Much Do Beekeepers Make Per Hive? Earnings Guide — Blythewood Bee Company

https://blythewoodbeecompany.com/blogs/news/how-much-do-beekeepers-make-per-hive?srsltid=AfmBOop7sjlRY-uqwPlaiQxqVHso2SwYU9OD576YpxlI1svDDOOegvqb

(4, 5, 6, 18, 20, 21) Variables de influencia para la producción de miel utilizando abejas Apis mellifera en la región de Misantla

https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-09342019000601353

(7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24) Abejas y Apicultura

https://atlas-abejas.agricultura.gob.mx/cap2.html

(9, 10) How much pollen does a colony need? – Insignia-EU

https://www.insignia-bee.eu/how-much-pollen-does-a-colony-need/