The Rural Voice, 1978-08, Page 32Bee breeding?
Bee breeding could be the answer for
Ontario beekeepers who suffer losses in
beehives during the winter and for farmers
who depend on bees to pollonizc their
crops.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
ood has funded a program at the Ontario
Agricultural College. Guelph. which used
artificial insemination to produce a more
LI productive strain of bee suited to Ontario
; conditions. The - co-ordinator of the
program is Professor M.V. Smith of the
i Department of Environmental Biology.
i "Ontario beekeepers have been buying a
queen bee from the southern United
States. These bees arc not suited for
inorthern conditions." the Professor said.
Prolonged cold winters and late cold
springs are a problem for bees because in
Fall bull tests
C
I Beef producers know the benefits of
!performance testing. The Record of
EPcrformance Bull Testing program has
:become so popular producers arc advised
Ito register now for fall tests.
Bob Murray. beef specialist for the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
:expefts the fall tests to fill up very quickly
this year.
i The Ministry -sponsored program has
space for 200 to 220 bulls for the fall tests
/beginning in November. This test is open
:to bulls born in April and May. 1978.
Mr. Murray says the program is
Ldvantageous to commercial beef pro-
ucers because it can pick out bulls which
!have the ability to gain most quickly.
CCn Although producers must consider a
;variety of traits when selecting a bull for
reeding purposes, the ROP program tests
my for rate of gain.
Bulls come into the test stations at
emptville, New Liskeard. Ridgetown and
Val for a 20 -day adaption period before
- he test begins says Mr. Murray.
At the beginning of the 140 -day test.
st bulls weigh from 450 to 650 pounds.
e says. They are weighed several times
uring the test and at the end to determine
he daily rate of gain.
Costs to the producers for the program is
2 cents per day and 40 cents per pound of
Fain.
During 1977, a total of 768 bulls were
tested. Tests are conducted six times a
year at the Arkell Station and once a year at
"ach of the other stations.
: To register for the ROP Bull Test
rogram, contact Mr. Murray, Live Stock
ranch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
;and Food, Legislative Buildings, Queen's
?ark, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1135 (416)
i)65-5971.
PG. 32 THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1978.
hinter if there is no temporary thaw to
allow bees to leave the hive for disposal of
their body wastes. their chances of survival
are reduced and the spring can also reduce
the bee population if stored food has been
consumed or if nothing is within reach of
the cluster.
Professor Smith wants a bee strain which
will cluster well and conserve energy in the
winter. so that stored food will not be used
too quickly before spring. Longevity,
weight, cold tolerance, gentleness.
foraging performance and ability to cluster
are under study. A bee developed
specifically for Ontario could change
current queen bee purchase trends.
Queens which have wintered our
northern climate are selected for the
delicate artificial insemination procedure
in which carbon dioxide is used as an
anaesthetic.
Professor Smith magnified the bee 10 to
15 times to perform the operation. Semen.
collected from selected drones. is used to
inseminate the queen and when the
operation is complete. the queen's wings
are clipped to prevent her from flying and
mating again.
Bee breeding does not rely on one
superior drone to fertilize a large number
of queens since drones are raised from
unfertilized eggs and their genetic
characteristics are derived from only the
queen bee. They die immediately after
mating.
Researchers are now testing various
laboratory methods of evaluating the
quality of breeding stock.
The insemination experiments them-
selves have had a success rate of 90 per
cent but there is some question of rejection
of the queen bee by other bees in the hive.
Students are now being taught at
Guelph's agriculture field laboratory how
to artificially inseminate the queen bees.
Can estimate soil loss
It is now possbile to estimate accurately\
potential soil erosion in Southern Ontario.
A mathematical equation adapted to local
conditions can give Ontario farmers an
evaluation of soil losses on an individual
basis.
This erosion equation considers factors
such as rainfall. soil erodability, slope.
crops grown • and soil management
practices.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food extension specialists can assist
concerned farmers with the use of the soil
loss equation. Information provided by the
farmers. and values developed through
research. is all that is necessary to make
the equation work.
Once the amount of soil loss is
calculated. methods of control can be
recommended. By following these recom-
mendations. Ontario farmers can benefit
from a valuable farm management tool -
The Soil Erosion Equation.
•
oto�EA a "I'm Gonna Gat A Supply
Of flute & Bolts"
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU SAY THAT LAST YEAR?
now is TNS TIE
• ASSORTMENTS LARGE & SMALL
• STORAGE TRAYS & CABINETS
• PACKAGED NUTS, BOLTS & WASHERS
• GRADE NO. 5
• BUY DIRECT — SAVE!
Call (no obligation)
TRANS CONTINENTAL BOLT CO.
Dealer Address. RON G. CARTER
P.O. Box 255, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0
Dealer Phone Phone 523-4353
—ii ii --i iia— ------------ i
PLEASE SEND FREE BROCHURE
NAME STREET OR ROAD
CITY STATE
PHONE
ZIP