Hands-on Queen instrumental insemination course

01 · THREE PEOPLE AND A SET EACH

Nine hours of exclusive use

The group is limited to three students, and each has a complete Schley station, a stereomicroscope, a centrifuge and the necessary instruments for the whole day. No taking turns, no sharing.

It is taught by Jonathan Clavero, a professional breeder specialised in instrumental insemination, who guides each student individually through the nine hours.

02 · WHAT NINE HOURS COVER

The whole process, not a part of it

It covers assembly and calibration of the Schley equipment, hygiene and disinfection protocols for the instruments, the collection, filtering and homogenising of drone semen, the use of the centrifuge for mixing and cleaning it, the insemination technique step by step under the stereomicroscope, and the handling and keeping of the queens.

There are virgin queens and drones available for real practice — or you can bring your own virgin queens if you prefer.

03 · YOU TAKE YOUR QUEENS HOME

The ones you manage to inseminate

Each student inseminates their own queens and keeps the ones that come out well. Often several in a single day, though the number depends on how the day goes and on each pair of hands.

That is the difference between having seen insemination done and having done it: you leave with queens of your own, made by you, and you know which ones worked and which did not.

04 · WHERE AND WHEN

In Tauste, and in a single day

It is held at Jonathan Clavero's breeding station in Tauste, Zaragoza (Spain), in an intensive day from 9:00 to 19:00, with lunch included in the price.

There are three places per edition and only a handful of dates across the season. It is worth asking which dates are open before arranging the trip.

05 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It is on site in Tauste, Zaragoza (Spain), in one day, with three places per edition. Check the dates and the language of instruction before booking.