Genetic Progress Achieved during 10 Years of Selective Breeding for Honeybee Traits of Interest to the Beekeeping Industry

Ségolène Maucourt, Frédéric Fortin, Claude Robert and Pierre Giovenazzo
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Ségolène Maucourt: Department of Biology, Vachon Pavillon, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Frédéric Fortin: Centre du Développement du Porc du Québec, 450-2590 Boulevard Laurier, Québec, QC G1V 4M6, Canada
Claude Robert: Department of Animal Science, Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels Pavillon, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Pierre Giovenazzo: Department of Biology, Vachon Pavillon, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Genetic improvement programs have resulted in spectacular productivity gains for most animal species in recent years. The introduction of quantitative genetics and the use of statistical models have played a fundamental role in achieving these advances. For the honeybee ( Apis mellifera ), genetic improvement programs are still rare worldwide. Indeed, genetic and reproductive characteristics are more complex in honeybees than in other animal species, which presents additional challenges for access genetic selection. In recent years, advances in informatics have allowed statistical modelling of the honeybee, notably with the BLUP-animal model, and access to genetic selection for this species is possible now. The aim of this project was to present the genetic progress of several traits of interest to the Canadian beekeeping industry (hygienic behavior, honey production and spring development) achieved in our selection program since 2010. Our results show an improvement of 0.30% per year for hygienic behavior, 0.63 kg per year for honey production and 164 brood cells per year for spring development. These advances have opened a new era for our breeding program and sharing this superior genetic available to beekeepers will contribute to the sustainability and self-sufficiency of the beekeeping industry in Canada.

Keywords: BLUP-animal model; honeybee; selection; breeding values; breeding program; hygienic behavior; honey production; spring development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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