Abstract

Here,  we  cover  a  wide  range  of  methods currently in  use  and  recommended in  modern queen rearing, selection, and breeding. The recommendations are meant to serve as stand-ards  for  scientific and  practical beekeeping purposes. The  basic  conditions and  different management techniques for  queen  rearing are  described, including recommendations for suitable technical equipment. As  the  success of  breeding programmes strongly depends on  the  selective mating of  queens, a  subsection is  dedicated to  the  management and quality control of  mating stations. Recommendations for  the  handling and  quality control of  queens complete the  queen  rearing section. The  improvement of  colony traits  usually depends on  a  comparative testing of  colonies. Standardised recommendations for  the organisation of  performance tests  and  the  measurement of  the  most  common selection characters are  presented. Statistical methods and  data  preconditions for  the  estimation of breeding values  that  integrate pedigree and  performance data  from  as  many  colonies as possible are  described as  the  most  efficient selection method for  large  populations. Alternative breeding programmes for  small  populations or  certain scientific questions are briefly mentioned, including an  overview of  the  young and  fast  developing field  of molecular selection tools.  Because the  subject of  queen  rearing and  selection is  too  large to  be  covered within  this  paper,  ample  references are  given  to  facilitate comprehensive studies.

Keywords

Honey bees; selection characters; performance testing; queen production; mating control; molecular selection; breeding values

Published in

Journal of Apicultural Research
2024,

SLU Authors

• Andonov, Sreten

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology
Animal and Dairy Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2023.2295180

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128958