Requeening-  The reasons for requeening include the fact that queens get
old and fail.  Most will do 2 years, and some more.  However, some will
fail after a year (some before that).  The estimate is that a 30% increase
in production, in a multihive operation, can be had by requeening every
year.  Also, by using well bred stock one can be assured of gentle,
productive and disease resistant stock (breeding for more than 3 traits at
a time gets a little difficult to keep track of).
 
Others have expressed the attitude that it is difficult for them to kill an
animal that has been so good to them, and that the 30% differential can be
made up just as well by running 30% more hives.
 
Breeders also face the problem of running enough allelles (genetic lines)
so that the gene pool does not shrink to the point where consumption of the
larvae by adult bees becomes unacceptably high.  In this case something may
be said for allowing free breeding.  However, it is still possible that the
gene pool in a given area could stagnate.
 
I guess that whether or not you choose to requeen depends upon how you see
your relationship with the Earth and bees.  If you are entirely bottom line
driven or into being mater of the hives, then requeening is the way to go.
If you are into stewardship as philosophy, and see the work as a
partnetship, then the choice might be not to requeen.
 
I still think it is possible to be a very good partner and steward and
requeen...
 
Aloha,
 
mike moriarty