When rearing queens we are often told in books and by speakers to breed queens from our "best" colony, but what is our best colony? If you asked the majority of beekeepers they will probably tell you it's the one that gives the most honey - and so will the writers and speakers. It is always assumed the yield is related to genetics, but I think this is yet another example of beekeeping's "false logic". We are not in the same situation as cattle breeders, where they can measure the quantity of milk a cow gives against the amount of food it has received, they also have full control over the parents on both sides.

With bees there may be a small genetic element in the amount of crop they produce, and I wouldn't argue with that, but there are other reasons why a colony will produce the crop it does, these include:-

• Hybrid vigour.   It is well known the first cross between two pure races often results in high yielding. This is why some of the well known types of bees have a reputation for being good honey gatherers. In my experience the next generation are often no better than the average and in some cases are worse. I know there is a great temptation to breed from these high yielding colonies, but it generally results in disappointment.
• Good robbers.   This could be either the well known "Normal robbing" or the less well known "Silent robbing". Both can add significantly to the "yield" of a colony, but is not true productivity.
• Condition of the colony.   It may be the colony that gives the highest yield happened to be in the most suitable state when the nectar flow was on.
• Management.   The beekeeper may have done something to a colony that may affect the yield, e.g. removed frames of brood, given foundation instead of comb, etc.
• Colony may have swarmed.   I'm certain some beekeepers don't always know when they lose a swarm.
• Patrilines.   A queen mates with several drones and the resulting groups of half-sisters are called patrilines (subfamilies). It is now known that each patriline is a bit more specialised in performing a particular task than others. The result is the colony is stronger and able to collect more nectar.

There are probably several other reasons as well, but these are the ones I can think of at the moment. What I do know is that bees aren't lazy - well not unless they are those very soft light yellow things that sit about if the sun doesn't shine enough for them!

I hope I have given you enough information to persuade you that high productivity may not always be genetic, therefore your highest yielders may not pass that trait onto their offspring.

Roger Patterson.