Practical Guide: 1.6.4 Total brood removal
Total brood removal is a biotechnical measure for reducing Varroa infestation without the direct use of varroacides. The procedure deliberately intervenes in the brood cycle and requires stable, high-performing colonies. The following notes are based exclusively on the official Practical Guide 1.6.4 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.
Official Practical Guide (BGD / SSA) – Summary
Practical Guide: 1.6.4 Total brood removal with brood utilization
- Definition: Total brood removal consists of removing all brood frames from a production colony in order to significantly reduce Varroa infestation.
- Objective: Biotechnical reduction of the Varroa population through interruption of the reproductive cycle, without direct use of chemical products.
- Prerequisites:
- Colonies sufficiently strong and in good health.
- Availability of natural food resources or ensured feeding.
- Effects on the colony:
- Marked reduction of Varroa infestation.
- Temporary pause in egg laying and brood development.
- Improvement of colony health status if the method is correctly applied.
- Procedure:
- All frames containing brood are removed from the colony.
- Replacement with drawn combs or foundation sheets.
- Ensure adequate food supply after the intervention.
- Utilization of the removed brood in accordance with the Practical Guide, for example for colony creation.
- Important point:
- This method should only be applied to sufficiently strong colonies.
► Open the official Practical Guide PDF (FR)
► Official Practical Guide overview page (abeilles.ch)
Note: Section Biotechnical measures → 1.6.4 “Total brood removal”.
Summary based on Practical Guide 1.6.4 (V 2505). Last verification: 01/2026.
See also:
- Practical Guide 1.1: Varroa concept
- Varroa control: summer brood interruption
- Brood blocking: control of varroa
- Practical Guide: 1.4.2 Artificial swarm
- Removal of drone brood