3. analyses of hybrid queens in Canada is showing fast spring build up and increases in honey production.

The Saskatraz hybrid project 2015 


Every year colonies are selected for honey production, overwintering ability, temperament, mite resistance and brood diseases. Selections are made from at least 1500 colonies per year at Meadow Ridge apiaries. In addition, selections contributed (exchange of queen cells, etc.) by other Saskatchewan beekeepers are also evaluated. Some of the selected colonies are placed in natural selection apiaries to test for mite resistance (recurrent natural selection), others are placed in separate apiaries to evaluate honey production and other traits. Breeder queens are selected after two to three year evaluations and virgin queens from selected breeders are crossed (close population mated) at natural selection apiaries to improve varroa tolerance, and at apiaries with selections for high honey production to maintain productivity. In the last few years we have set up a natural selection apiary with colonies bred for high VSH activity, and in 2015 an apiary with colonies selected to produce diverse drones from colonies selected for economic traits (honey production, wintering ability, and varroa tolerance) from 7 different Saskatraz families. This should maintain genetic diversity as well as enriching for alleles carrying beneficial traits.


* Let me put it this way. Does adding lemons, water and ice to whiskey make it taste better? Maybe, but it doesn’t make it stronger. 

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