>
> >In fact, I was able to collect evidence for either case: 1) year old
> queens always outperform older queens vs 2) queens are fully capable in
> their second year. (References available on request).


I've also researched this subject deeply, and concur with Pete.

Charlie, you appear to be going beyond appropriate scientific skepticism.
There are any number of well-designed experiments in which researchers
compared the amount of brood produced by queens of different ages in
identically-managed hives in the same yard, under the same conditions, at
the same time.  They were not comparing to an imaginary "standard," but
rather comparing to controls.

Despite your repeated criticisms of the scientific method on this List, as
far as I'm concerned, I'd put my money on the findings of well-designed
studies, as opposed to commercial beekeeper anecdotal reports, any day.

If I can find time, I'll post an example of a quick experiment that I
recently ran to test such anecdotal advice from well-established commercial
beekeepers, when I recently had a problem with Black Queen Cell Virus.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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