Such a loaded topic
Brings out the all knowing in us all. Lol
All I can say is the new research out of Europe, the folks at COLOSS, are all chasing the concept that the queens are the main reason for virus spreading in colonies. Makes sense to me.
They got it from the drones at mating.
Your genetic breeding will yield a small improvement with 20 hives.Still Worth It!!! Now if you and 10 other like minded folks pooled resources and swapped genetics your gonna get somewhere, get a decent mating yard semi isolated as well.
Not tracking the genetic markers for resistance, virology on your queens and drones, and at least a 4 year run by a few queens in a few colonies, your dealing in speculation nothing proven, but that's ok you see the improvement or not.
Next big hurdle is passing down the traits or alleles to F1 F2 F3 as virus resistance it is highly recessive. Dont know if you have a marker for mite resistance, (it's more a combination of supreme health and radiance that repels the mites). And tracking this genetic movement over many years.
The issue is not just mites (lower vitogellin and lipid counts are disastrous in colder climates)) its virus ( 7) that's why tracheal ( k wing) was successful in treatment free and varroa is not. With two new virus out here (ssi and DWV2) coming soon to your part of the country, you may well hold onto the moral high ground of treatment free but you gonna spend a lot of time rebuilding each spring and where is that genetic going with the statistical odds of reinfection not in your favor.
Are we weakening the genetics by our approach to bees heck yes. Is treatment free an improvement....... I dunno, depends on who's doing it. You best be good at disease recognition and know your species and their tolerances.
Wooden boxes larger colonies,
Manipulations sugar, pol sub, anti biotic, mass breeding, transitory, toxin exposures etc etc etc. My thought is you breed your best, treat it you have to and regroup the genetic ball of wax by just simply taking proper care and let them be bees for once, let them get three winters behind em and adjust to your locale, dont add anything to the mix, or add it before you start the three year run. Now you got something ( maybe) lol.
I do not disagree it's all about your queens and localized breeding, this is the sustainable way forward, after a few years why would you even consider bringing in swarms from unknown sources....... your contaminating your hard work.
Just my nickels worth of chatter on the topic. With respect and best wishes for success to all.
Blessed are the beemakers.
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