Barley

[NeilA]

Why is it traditional to feed a dupurative mix or barley more at the start of the week yet maize is popular at the end yet both are high carbs and they don’t carry much protein or fat
I feed Barley every day including Thursday just changing fats as the wind / distance dictates
Yet the traditional way is barley then on to a super widowhood type feed I don’t think I will ever understand that way of feeding why use a widowhood mix with a few peas in at the end of the week when you need carbs and fats then

[Andy]

Maize is high in easily digestible sugars that is turned into energy, which barley doesn’t contain. The feed on the transporters for the internationals is nearly all maize.
We used to feed mainly grass silage to the cows back in the 80s & 90s. When we changed to feeding 80% maize silage yields were significantly higher due to higher energy levels which were evident from blood tests.

[NeilA]

Maize is high in easily digestible sugars that is turned into energy, which barley doesn’t contain. The feed on the transporters for the internationals is nearly all maize.
We used to feed mainly grass silage to the cows back in the 80s & 90s. When we changed to feeding 80% maize silage yields were significantly higher due to higher energy levels which were evident from blood tests.

Does barley not contain starch ? Also how much waster matter is in maize
As for peas in a widowhood mix any ideas Andy ?

[CHARLTON34]

I have barley in my mix 365 day's a year, think I've fed more this month for the moult & a certain % in my racing mix. My ybs have been on Centenary mix although not raced which is a high carbohydrate mix think it was about 60% or so on the bag with added barley.

[NeilA]

I have barley in my mix 365 day's a year, think I've fed more this month for the moult & a certain % in my racing mix. My ybs have been on Centenary mix although not raced which is a high carbohydrate mix think it was about 60% or so on the bag with added barley.

Agree mate
I have about 25 per cent barley that may reduce a little due to increasing fats at times all season
Yet you get fanciers just sprinting still using a old fashioned widowhood mix with about 20 per cent peas in it on a Thursday

[Andy]

Maize is high in easily digestible sugars that is turned into energy, which barley doesn’t contain. The feed on the transporters for the internationals is nearly all maize.
We used to feed mainly grass silage to the cows back in the 80s & 90s. When we changed to feeding 80% maize silage yields were significantly higher due to higher energy levels which were evident from blood tests.

Does barley not contain starch ? Also how much waster matter is in maize
As for peas in a widowhood mix any ideas Andy ?

Yes barley contains starch but not as much as maize. Barley is a bit higher in protein than maize. I don’t know why there are peas in the mix. I think that the reason for feeding the widowhood mix over barley from midweek is more to do with the fact that it is more liked by the pigeons and so increases intake. I thought it was to increase energy levels running up to the race whereas it would be harder to do that with barley that the pigeons aren’t so keen on. Maybe I need to rethink my approach to feeding as I have always fed them the old way.

[NeilA]

Just can’t see the idea of peas Andy not after Wednesday yet so many widowhood corns contain them
I don’t see the need in sprinting maybe Sunday Monday although energy rich fat seeds do a better job I think
Maybe distance is different as you not building Saturday to Saturday the same as a sprint loft but more for target races

[Murray]

I never have barley on the place, so I can't comment. It's a grain I grew to hate when I was in the racing game. Even horses have to be really hungry to eat it. And a hungry animal is not a happy animal.

[Steve Howells]

Why is it traditional to feed a dupurative mix or barley more at the start of the week yet maize is popular at the end yet both are high carbs and they don’t carry much protein or fat
I feed Barley every day including Thursday just changing fats as the wind / distance dictates
Yet the traditional way is barley then on to a super widowhood type feed I don’t think I will ever understand that way of feeding why use a widowhood mix with a few peas in at the end of the week when you need carbs and fats then

I suspect Neil it’s down to tradition, a good fancier does it and others simply follow without question.

[NeilA]

Why is it traditional to feed a dupurative mix or barley more at the start of the week yet maize is popular at the end yet both are high carbs and they don’t carry much protein or fat
I feed Barley every day including Thursday just changing fats as the wind / distance dictates
Yet the traditional way is barley then on to a super widowhood type feed I don’t think I will ever understand that way of feeding why use a widowhood mix with a few peas in at the end of the week when you need carbs and fats then

I suspect Neil it’s down to tradition, a good fancier does it and others simply follow without question.

Very good point Steve