Tom Barrett writes:

>I have recently come across the following headings used by a Queen Breeder
>to assess his queens for breeding purposes.
>
>1. Docility (non Jumping, Non Stinging, Non Following)
>2. Steadiness On Comb (Absence Of Running)
>3. Brood Pattern (Compactness Of Brood, Absence Of Empty Cells)
>4. Pollen Storage (Pollen Packed Over, Around And Under The Broodnest)
>5. Comb Building (Speed In Occupying Supers, Drawing Foundation, Honey
>Storage    And Quality Of Comb Capping)
>
>Each heading is given a rating of 0 to 5.
>
>Strangely enough there is nothing in the list about foraging ability.
>
Presumably the breeder queens have been selected from the production hives
on the basis of the honey produced.  The assessment is then based on
additional factors.  I would tend to rate the first 3 factors as more
relevant than the final 2. After some years of queen breeding, I understand
(not having reached this stage myself) that it becomes difficult to
distinguish the best and points 4 and 5 may then be worth taking into
consideration INMHO.

Betty McAdam.
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
J.H. & E. McAdam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.kin.on.net/hogbay/hogbay1.htm

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