Queen Bees Free to Cross Border

Mar 11, 2010

Apiculturists, breathe easy. A hold on the importation of queen bees from Hawaii, linked to the discovery of a virulent parasitic mite, is to be lifted.

"We are quite relieved," said Heather Clay, chief executive officer with the Canadian Honey Council. "It is business as usual."

The queens, who can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day, are a vital component to the health and production of crops that Agriculture Canada estimates are worth more than $2 billion each year.

In late January the mite known as Varroa destructor – partly responsible for high honey bee mortality across North America and recently linked to 85 per cent of bee mortality in Canadian hives – was found on Hawaii's main island. Once the mite was discovered, the queens were in lock down.

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Video: New Solution Powers Efficient Pork Growth

Alltech has introduced Olerix, an innovative phytogenic blend created to promote growth and feed efficiency in pigs. Through a proprietary coating process, the bioactive blend of phytogenic compounds used in Olerix is designed to outlast the manufacturing process, ensuring consistent outcomes from feed to finish. The result is a high-impact efficiency solution that provides consistent support for gut health, feed efficiency, immune function and growth performance. Olerix is backed by validated trials conducted under modern pork production conditions.

“As the industry searches for technology to drive profitability forward in a more sustainable manner, we’re thrilled to join that effort with our Olerix technology,” said Mark Hulsebus, general manager for U.S. pork at Alltech. “Our work in this phytogenic space is yielding very encouraging results, and we’re excited to make this new opportunity available to pork producers focused on optimizing feed efficiency and growth rates.”

“Olerix represents the next generation of phytogenic technology — combining feed efficiency, livability and immune support into a practical commercial solution producers can implement today,” said Andy Rash, U.S. monogastric director at Alltech.