> Last weekend it got warm enough (48 F) to let me take a quick peek in the
hives.
> The hives were quite light, but with very large populations, much larger than
> I am accustomed to seeing in overwintering Carniolans.

> The small cluster in traditional Carniolans means that they use
> less honey during winter.

Agreed.  I will requeen the last of my buckfast colonies
this fall, and then I will be 100% NWC.

> Checking the OSU site, I note that they are now selecting for larger
> winter clusters in order to facilitate more rapid spring build-up.

Ouch!  Cognitive whiplash!

> Speaking strictly for myself, I have never found the Carniolans to
> lack anything in spring build-up. Indeed, if I am the least bit tardy
> in my inspections, manipulations, and splits, I get swarms.

Yes, I can hear the ticking "time bombs" in each hive from here.
I like the "nearly exponential" build-up rate.  My apple grower
pollination client is very impressed with the difference versus
buckfasts.  (Yes, I know its not really "exponential", but if
you are standing close to an NWC hive in spring, you can hear
the joints in the woodenware creaking under the expansion force!)

I have no idea what the purpose might be behind breeding out what
I view as a key "feature".

> Has anyone else noted very large Carniolan clusters with NWC stock?

Nope.  About 120 of my hives are NWC.  By the 2nd week in February,
every one had been "looked at" for spring, and all were about what
I'd expect.

> Are the benefits of even more rapid spring build-up worth the costs
> of feeding a larger winter cluster?

Uh, depends.  If you have pollination to do on something like apples,
you might like it.  If you have a front-weighted spring nectar flow
(like we do in VA, with lots of Tulip Poplar), you certainly will like it.

I'm not going to question Sue Colby's judgment on this, but I'd sure
like to meet someone who is unhappy with the current rate of build-up,
and I'd sure like to see "the math" on how (for example) a 20% larger
cluster population makes any significant difference in spring build up.

Offhand, I'd guess the intent would be to have more bees feeding larvae
and keeping the brood warm so that the initial "brood footprint" can
be larger earlier.

$10 says that someone wants to make fall splits, and use them as
"pollination units" on almonds.

I'm going to the Tri-County meeting at OSU's Wooster, OH
facility this weekend, maybe Sue will be there.  If she is, I'll ask.

       jim

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