This topic relates to the border discussion but I thought it more appropriate to start a new topic for my question. With the border discussion leading to stock selection as the most effective way to combat mites and disease in the future, what I want to know is how do I go about starting this in my operation now? I understand that I want to promote my strongest stock, the ones that appear healthiest, make the most honey, winter the best etc. To do this, I would think that I would generate queens from these lines and requeen hives with lines that I find un-desirable. That said, I run 450-500 hives and this winter has been very very good to me and I have a low loss rate and a lot of very strong hives that are producing a pretty decent amount of brood already. Out of these strongest hives, what characteristics do I look for, above and beyond the rest of the good hives, to promote? I truly believe that elminating the weakest stock lines is the best way to give our operation the best chance to survive any impending disasters that may arise.
~Jim
ps: thanks to you Allen for this forum, it has quickly become my most visited site and a very valuable resource for my wife and I
Stock Selection
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I think you guys pretty well covered it.
I can only add that it is wise to breed from a number of mothers and better to eliminate the bad stock than to try to breed only the very best. Those 'best' characteristics in a hive may be only a matter of lucky chance or individual fortune, rather than a proof of superior genes.
If you 'nuc out' your worst hives and requeen with cells, consider that you may have some really bad drone stock in the mating yard. I made that mistake -- once.
allen
I can only add that it is wise to breed from a number of mothers and better to eliminate the bad stock than to try to breed only the very best. Those 'best' characteristics in a hive may be only a matter of lucky chance or individual fortune, rather than a proof of superior genes.
If you 'nuc out' your worst hives and requeen with cells, consider that you may have some really bad drone stock in the mating yard. I made that mistake -- once.
allen