Saskatraz Queen | Imported | California | Olivarez
Olivarez has been raising queens for more than 50 years in Northern California, where the low humidity; warm, gravelly soil; and rich, natural food supply create optimal conditions. Shielded from the wind by trees and surrounded by thousands of acres of blooming clover, mustard, and other nectar-producing plants, their mating yards give their queens a strong start in life.
Olivarez Saskatraz Queens
Saskatraz hybrids are produced in Northern California (Orland area) by Olivarez Honey Bees using Saskatraz breeder queens constructed in Saskatchewan, Canada by Meadow Ridge Enterprises (Breeder and CEO, Albert J. Robertson). A detailed review of the Saskatraz project (established 2005), including breeding methods, published research articles, PowerPoint presentations, and information on individual breeding families, including Saskatraz hybrids, can be found at www.saskatraz.com.
Saskatraz breeder queens are selected for honey production, wintering ability, temperament, tracheal mite resistance, varroa tolerance/resistance, and brood diseases. The Saskatraz breeding program uses recurrent natural selection to select for varroa tolerance in productive colonies with good economic traits.
Saskatraz hybrids are being produced in Northern California using virgin queens from diverse families of Saskatraz breeder queens and open mating them with unrelated drone populations in the Orland area. These queens produce colonies with genetically diverse workers. This diversity results in increased vigor, and analyses of hybrid queens in Canada are showing fast spring build-up and increases in honey production. Attention to fall stores for wintering and in the spring is necessary.
Use of Saskatraz hybrid stock in your apiaries should provide drone populations that will increase the frequency of alleles for honey production and varroa tolerance, as well as other economic traits. This is because drones from the hybrids carry the genetics of their mother, the breeder queen.
- Olivarez queens are certified free from Africanized Genetics
- Olivarez is certified free from Small Hive Beetle
Saskatraz breeder queen traits:
- Excellent honey production
- Good wintering ability
- Selected for increased varroa tolerance and resistance to brood diseases
- Show increased hygienic behavior
Pick up:
You can meet us in Winnipeg when they arrive or pick them up shortly after we return to Dufresne. We will notify you in advance via email.
Queens need to be picked up 1-2 days after arrival to optimize survival and to avoid forfeiture of the non-refundable livestock purchase.
Arrival Notice: PLEASE WATCH YOUR EMAIL
Queen arrival times can often be outside of our control. Flights and connections change frequently. We'll keep you in the loop. Please add mike@dancingbeeequipment.com to your address book.
We generally email the week before arrival to notify you of the expected arrival schedule. If there are any changes, we will email you as soon as we know.
Pre-payment in full is required on all Queen orders.
For commercial orders, please call for pricing:
204-866-2402
OCCASIONAL DELAYS IN PICK-UP DATES MAY OCCUR DUE TO SEASONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WILL EMAIL ABOUT ANY UPDATES OR CHANGES