> You can add the SMR trait to your bees by open mating your strain
> (drones) with SMR breeder queen daughters...

Something to keep in mind is that the SMR bees developed by Baton Rouge
*were not* selected for *anything* -- AFAIK -- except SMR, and, although
they can be used to breed SMR into other lines of bees, that was not the
intent.  They are an experimental demonstration line that was released soley
due to industry demand.

The intent, in developing the SMR line, was simply to prove that the SMR
trait -- one of several possible traits that can lead to varroa
resistance -- could be selected.  Since SMR has been found in any line of
bees that has been examined, the thought was that breeders would adopt the
SMR selection procedure, and not necessarily that they would use the Baton
Rouge SMR stock itself.

My understanding is that Baton Rouge is currently trying or planning to try
to select for several of the other properties that could, like SMR, be
similarly effective in suppressing varroa in order to provide a
multi-pronged approach.

Hopefully that is the approach that those with an already well-selected
strain will follow *unless* they see other valuable traits in the SMR line.
Otherwise, introducing enough SMR to make a difference would dilute and
alter their stock.

allen
http://www.honeybeeworld.com

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