A satisfied customer is our goal. If we can make you breeding stock that improves your bottom-line or enhances your breeding population with mite resistance and brood/honey production, we've succeeded.
We work with several breeding populations that we use to maintain and produce our three foundation strains: VSH Italian (Allegro), VSH Carniolan (Spartan) and the VSH Pol-line 2.2. We select for VSH expression and have had a material transfer agreement with the USDA Baton Rouge bee breeding lab. Our collaboration with two of the original Pol-line collaborators, using BEST protocol, provides good gene flow and promotes genetic diversity. VP's Breeding Program details.
We can make you any cross combination imparting mite resistance with the VSH trait. Some of our customers opt for high brood production/buildup in their breeders. Contact us to discuss your options with our strains that will produce VSH and Pol-line like bees.
queens are framed on the Italian phenotype. They build up quickly in the Spring and can be split sooner. They rear strong brood into the Fall. Good VSH Expression.
queens are framed on the Carniolan phenotype. They build up more slowly then VP VSH Italian, but produce enormous brood nests and worker populations in time for the honey flow. They slow up if the nectar/pollen availability lessens and they make a conservative Fall brood nest. Good VSH Expression.
queens are our most popular offering. Their breeding and selection program is based in part from genetic material originating from a breeding population similar to the USDA Pol-line program. Selection criteria centers on mite-resistance, production, tempermant, build-up and longevity. Breeding candidates build up strongly, produce high honey yields and have low mite infestations. The BEST protocol is used for selecting the best candidates for production and to maintain the population. This breeding program is ongoing as we all continue to select and improve this mite resistant, high performing honey bee stock. In collaboration with the USDA Bee Lab initially, and currently with original Pol-line collaborators, these breeder queens are now available. Open-mated queens are available from the The B Farm and Lambs Honey Farm
Note: Custom selected breeders queen prices will reflect the level of effort in selection and will be priced accordingly.