On July 5th Allen Dick commented:
>>
> Do the methods that the queen breeder uses have an affect on the
> quality of queens?
 
Various reports over the years have shown pretty conclusively that
the conditions under which queens are raised is generally more
important than the genetics (assuming reasonably closely related
strains).  Well-raised queens from average to poor stock outperformed
queens from good stock that were poorly raised.
>>
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This is not what I have observed Allen.  From my own queen production I
have noticed that queens from good strains are always better, even if
raised under non optimal conditions, that queens from a poor strain
raised under ideal conditions.  The point that should be clarified is
what do we mean by "poor conditions".  If we mean qeens raised from
cells from cell finisher colonies that are not properly stimulated and
that are loaded with too many cells, then maybe you are right.  Anyway I
would be curious to read the "various reports" you are refering to.
 
Jean-Pierre Chapleau
eleveur de reines/ queen breeder
1282, rang 8, Saint-Adrien-de-Ham, Quebec, Canada
(819)828-3396, fax: (819)828-0357
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