WHY GOOD
QUEENS MAKE GOOD COLONIES
A colony is
only as good as its queen. The Buckfast strain combines a number of desired
characteristics, such as hardiness, low swarming, gentleness, ease of handling, resistance
to disease and honey gathering ability, in a single bee. That’s why it really does
pay to acquire geniune pedigree Buckfast queens.
HOW TO SELECT
BREEDER QUEENS
Anyone can
select a queen for breeding purposes. But like most professionals we require some
statistical evidence to back up our judgement, so our extensive breeding records and
detailed evaluation system helps us to spot the queen that is suitable for use as a
breeder.
STARTING
RIGHT
The Buckfast
bee in Denmark is derived from original breeding material imported from Buckfast Abbey,
England, over a period of many years. The purity of our stock has been maintained because
both the male and female parentage of each queen is known with 100% accuracy.
LINE
EVALUATION
A large
number of different breeding lines are kept at all times. To obtain reliable statistical
data, colonies headed by sister queens are evaluated as units, to see if a particular line
performs well throughout the entire beekeeping season under all field conditions.
COLONY
EVALUATION
Every time a
colony is examined it is given grades on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high) based upon fixed
criteria for the characteristics of temper, behaviour on the comb, and inclination to
swarm. At the end of the season they are collated and computer analysed. Note is also
taken of honey production, Nosema resistance and hygenic behaviour.
POTENTIAL
BREEDERS
In this way,
lists of potential breeder queens are gradually obtained, and the choice between one
sister queen and another is often finely balanced because it is rare for two queens of the
same line to be used as breeders in the same year. So, ultimately, the beekeeper’s
experience, knowledge and judgement are required if the correct selection is to be made.
QUALITY
CONTROL
Every breeder
queen colony we select is independently assessed on a regular basis by an experienced
member of the Danish Beekeepers’ Association, to guarantee the high quality of our
breeding stock.
AGE AND
PERFORMANCE
Most queens
are two years old when they are used as breeders. Because they remain in their colonies
throughout their working life, their performance can be monitored long after their
daughters have been raised and mated, giving further valuable information about their
character and behaviour.
BR
ADAM’S LEGACY
Br Adam
Kehrle was in charge of Buckfast Abbey’s bees from 1919 to 1992. He founded the
Buckfast strain and introduced a method of queen breeding based upon purity of stock,
controlled mating, precise records and judicious selection. Br Adam never sought to keep
the Buckfast bee for himself, and that’s why we are pleased to carry on his work
today.
QUEEN
REARING
The grafting
of larvae and the rearing of queens is carried out at the Brandstrup home in Reerslev, so
that a careful watch is kept over the entire process at all times.
Forward
planning lies at the heart of queen rearing success. Schedules are made out for early for,
amongst other things, the making up of cell builder colonies, the grafting of larvae, and
transport of the queens to the island mating station.
Grafting
takes place three times a week during the season from successive breeder queens. When
sufficient larvae of the right age has been obtained, the frame is returned to the parent
colony.
Cell builders
receive 40 queen cups at a time. Syrup, frames of pollen and sealed brood is also given on
a regular basis, to maintain viability and strength.
Once sealed,
the cells are transferred to an incubator where the queens emerge in a controlled
environment. The queen is checked within four hours, and if she is small, lacks food or is
damaged in any way, she is immediately destroyed.
Marking takes
place before the queens are caged, and each batch of sister queens is given a specific
colour code, so that any queen raised during the season may be positively identified
without any chance of error.
Mating hives are of the Apidea type. As soon as the caged queen and young
bees are added, the new mini-nuc is ready for the mating station.
Drone
producing colonies on Nexelø.
ISLAND MATING
The small
island of Nexelø lies two miles from Havnsø harbour on the west coast of Sjælland, a
short drive away from Reerslev. It is free of feral colonies and the islanders do not keep
bees, so it is a safe location for isolated matings. Ten strong colonies headed by
identical sister queens are used to produce the necessary drones, which ensures that the
queen is mated with males of known parentage. Colonies remain on Nexelø for three weeks,
and then are returned to a temporary apiary where the queen is checked and her brood is
examined prior to despatch.
ARTIFICIAL
INSEMINATION
Since 1992,
pedigree Buckfasts have also been raised at Reerslev using award-winning artificial
insemination equipment, partly because the queen rearing season in Denmark is so short,
and partly because artificial insemination offers the chance of trying out new genetic
combinations. To obtain the necessary drones, sealed drone larvae is first removed from
selected colonies and then relocated in a secure hive. The drones are marked soon after
they emerge so that they can be identified when fertile. Every artificially inseminated
queen is introduced into a mating hive for testing before despatch.
PEDIGREE
BUCKFAST QUEENS OF PROVEN VALUE
Arguably the
most important aspect of hive management concerns the nature of the queen. That’s why
the acquisition of a genuine pedigree Buckfast queen can make beekeeping more enjoyable
and more profitable at the end of the day.
Keld
Brandstrup, Bee Master
INTRODUCING
KELD BRANDSTRUP
Keld Brandstrup has kept bees since 1980. He is the leading Buckfast breeder in Denmark
and runs over 400 colonies (all with island mated queens) for honey production. A Bee
Disease Inspector himself, he sits on the Board of the Danish Commercial Beekeepers’
Association and previously served on the Board of the Danish Beekeepers’ Association.
He lectures in Europe and North America, mainly about the breeding of the Buckfast bee.
ASSURANCE OF
QUALITY
Buckfast
Denmark queens are identical sisters of the queens we use in our own colonies, and come
with an authentic pedigree certificate as proof of purchase. Moreover, Buckfast Denmark is
authorised as an official supplier of Buckfast queens, to maintain the good name of both
Br Adam and the celebrated strain that he created.
STOCK
IMPROVEMENT
The Buckfast
bee is a hybrid that requires the periodic introduction of new blood to prevent inbreeding
and to accentuate certain genetic attributes, such as mite tolerance. Consequently, new
combinations are always being tested for possible future incorporation into the strain.
EUROPE
AND BEYOND
Beekeepers in
almost every European country, including Belguim, Germany, France and and the UK, have
taken advantage of the opportunity to obtain Buckfast Denmark queens. In addition, mating
stations in Holland have been supplied with specific drone breeders, and the University of
Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has set up a special bee research programme using Buckfast
Denmark breeder queens.
CHOOSE FROM
THESE QUEENS...
•
Breeders
Due to high
demand, prior agreement is usually required for the supply of suitable breeder queens.
•
Artificially inseminated
Available
from early August to mid September. Limited numbers, so please order early to avoid
disappointment.
• Island
mated
Ready for
despatch from July 1st until September 30th. Suitable for the production of F1 colonies.
• Random
mated
Supplied
during July, August and September. Mated in areas of secure drones. Ideal queens in good
honey regions.
•
Unmated
Available
from the beginning of June until the end of August. Despatched within 24 hours of
emergence.
SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED
All Buckfast
Denmark queens are mailed by first class postage and come with an authentic pedigree
certificate as proof of purchase, a Danish Health Certificate that is valid in all EU
countries, and a 100% money-back guarantee. Apistan queen tabs will be included on
request.
SPECIAL
SERVICE TO QUEEN REARERS
For queen
rearers wishing to graft larvae of Buckfast Denmark breeder queens, frames of eggs (12 to
24 hours old) may be ordered one month in advance of collection.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
For more
information about acquiring genuine, pure-bred, pedigree Buckfast queens, please contact
Keld Brandstrup at:
|