Buckfast bees arose thanks to the work of a completely humble monk, brother of Adam, as Karl Kehrle was called. He began his work in the apiary of the monastery in 1915 at the age of seventeen. All this took place in England.
Buckfast bee breed
In those days in question, in English lands, bee colonies died from ticks. The abbey decided to buy new bees of the Italian breed. In 1919, it was discovered that only those families where there was a cross between the local breed and the Italian were not affected by the disease. Based on this result, the young beekeeper began breeding, and in 1927 a breed of bees was bred that could withstand the tracheal mite.
The young abbot did not stop breeding work and continued to improve the breed. For this, he visited many countries around the world in search of new material for his work. After seventy years of hard work, he managed to artificially breed the best breed of bees in the world.
Buckfast bee breed
A feature of this breed is that during the entire period of honey collection at Buckfast, the uterus displays a large amount of brood, while the bees do not swarm at all. In order to get a large amount of honey, the development of the family should in no way be limited. You cannot divide the family or take the sealed brood. Throughout the summer period, the beekeeper only has to substitute additional bags and pump out honey.
The queen lays eggs only in the lower part of the hive and never goes up. The entire family of bees is focused on the frames adjacent to the brood. Perga is collected by insects in a separate frame.
During the inspection, the beekeeper does not need protection and smoker. The Buckfast bee has a positive characteristic. Insects are peaceful, and as soon as the cover of the hive is opened, they go down.
Not aggressive breed of bees Buckfast
There are three lines in the Buckfast breed, which are completely different from each other in terms of brood rearing. But all of them do not suffer from varroatosis and viral diseases at all. Therefore, when buying insects of this breed, you need to take into account the characteristics of the line that you purchased.
Disadvantages of Buckfast bees
Buckfast breed of bees, their disadvantage is, first of all, in poor frost resistance. Since the breeds of bees from southern countries were mainly taken for breeding, it is very difficult for them to endure winter in the northern latitudes.
Another major disadvantage is that it is very difficult to hatch the uterus of this species. Of the fifteen hundred bred queen bees, only twenty-six will correspond to this species. The nurseries of this breed are located in Germany. One barren queen costs thirty euros. Fruit will cost from three hundred to two thousand euros.
It should be remembered that the genetic material for breeding the Buckfast breed has been lost, so it will be impossible to restore the breed.
Buckfast bees do not tolerate cold
Benefits
All the advantages of this variety were conceived by the breeder at the beginning of his work on breeding the breed. He himself figured out what requirements insects should meet. First of all, the family must reproduce and develop to the maximum.Secondly, this species should give a large amount of honey and naturally not be afraid of diseases and not swarm.
As a result of work for seventy years, a breed has turned out with the following advantages:
- The uterus lays a large number of eggs and thus ensures good growth in the family.
- Workers are distinguished by their endurance and ability to collect honey from large areas with melliferous plants.
- There are lines that are capable of taking early bribes and, accordingly, late ones.
- The family compactly keeps the nest in the lower part of the hive, with bee bread and honey in the upper part.
- The bottom of the hive is always kept clean.
- Virtually no propolis is emitted.
- Do not get sick.
- Insects are peaceful and easy to work with.
- Families practically do not swarm.
Bee Buckfast
Buckfast bees are very difficult to breed. The problem is the genetic code that defines the breed. The only method that is suitable for maintaining all qualities is artificial insemination. In this case, only pedigree drones are used.
The uterus lays eggs only in the lower part of the hive, it is not typical for her to rise to the upper part. Reproduction of the uterus is very rapid, and it cannot be limited in this. In appearance, the description of Queen Buckfast is similar to the uterus of the Italian breed, but she has a dark color. In terms of body structure, this bee has a more elongated shape in comparison with the Ukrainian steppe. The legs of the Buckfast bees are black, the wings are brown. But it should be borne in mind that this breed has several lines, with its own characteristics in the appearance of insects.
Bee Buckfast
Bee packages Buckfast
In order to start beekeeping, it is best to start with Buckfast bees.
To do this, you can buy a ready-made bee package, which contains:
- three frames with brood;
- one with food;
- bees;
- queen.
The frames in the bee package are used from the Dadan hive.
To settle bees from the Buckfast bee package, the following rules must be followed:
- Clean and rinse the hive thoroughly, then put frames with foundation, drinker, food for bees and other necessary tools in it.
- Carefully transfer the frames to the hive and shake off any remaining insects and wait until they calm down. Only after that you need to plant the uterus.
- You need to carefully monitor the behavior of insects and periodically feed them. Within a month, the workers will gain strength, and they will need to substitute new frameworks.
Buckfast bees are the best in the world, while bred by humans. Caring for them is completely uncomplicated; there is no need to use beekeeping equipment for inspection.
