Buckfast is not a natural subspecies. It is a breeding line created by crossing several subspecies and selecting over a long period.

It was developed in the twentieth century at an abbey apiary in England, following an outbreak of tracheal mite, with the aim of producing a resistant and productive bee. Its foundation is the Italian bee, with traits from other subspecies added later.

Selection aims

• Gentleness
• Low swarming tendency
• High honey yield
• Disease resistance
• Good overwintering
• Steadiness on the comb

Selecting these traits together has made Buckfast widespread in commercial beekeeping.

Strengths

• Marked gentleness: Makes inspection easy
• Low swarming tendency: Reduces workload
• High yield: Makes good use of long flow periods
• A long-sustained brood area: The colony stays strong through the season

The critical point: the second generation

This is the most important thing to know when working with Buckfast.

Because it is a hybrid line, its traits are not permanently fixed. When daughters raised from a Buckfast queen mate openly, the traits segregate.

The outcome is unpredictable: gentleness may be lost, defensiveness may rise markedly, yield may fall. This is sometimes called the second-generation problem.

The practical consequence: a beekeeper working with Buckfast must renew queens from the breeder. Raising queens from your own colonies loses the advantage of the line within a few generations.

Regional effect

Hybrid drones range widely and mate with colonies in the surrounding area. This changes the genetic make-up of local subspecies populations.

In regions where the native subspecies is being conserved this is a contested issue. Some countries have protected mating areas and regional regulations.

Who it suits

It suits beekeepers who buy queens regularly and put yield and ease of work first.

It may not be a suitable choice for those who wish to raise their own queens, or who work in an area where the native subspecies is under conservation.