> How can we evaluate pollen supplements?

>> Allen, a test that I have not performed, but think would be good, would be to rear a couple of rounds of queen cells in colonies during a pollen
dearth, fed only the supplements to test.

That could be interesting, and I suppose observing the presence and amount of drone brood might be an indicator, too.  Perhaps an analysis of the nitrogen content and/or weight of emerging bees could demonstrate some differences.

Again, though, even in a dearth, if pollen is coming in, the type of pollen might favour one recipe over another. 

Of course in such a test, the colonies must all be very closely related genetically or large numbers must be tested, since differing genotypes gather more and less pollen as well as differing variety.

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