Saskatraz bees are a hybrid selected from a range of bees sourced from Saskatchewan. The bees have been selected based on honey production and disease resistance.
Italian bees are somewhere between a breed and a race. They are derived from bees from a region of Italy, and bee breeders breed these bees to have “Italian characteristics”.
It appears that the selectors for honey production in Saskatraz bees are quite strong and beekeepers do report very good honey yields. Italian bees are widely regarded as being excellent honey-producing hives.