Thoughts on pop corn maize

[Andy]

Not sure on popcorn maize. I see that VL are using quite a bit of black maize in their mixes. Not something I ever heard of when farming so has been developed for some reason. What’s your thoughts on the black maize Neil? You look into mixes far more than I do.

[Devo1956]

Popcorn mix ideal when weaning, smaller mix for youngsters to get use to. But also for older birds quicker to break down.

Do you mean soak it for old birds in there mix and the ybs ?

I always soaked for both Neil, a batch for both the night before. My wife said I was like Heston Blumenthal with the birds. always looking for something.

[NeilA]

Popcorn mix ideal when weaning, smaller mix for youngsters to get use to. But also for older birds quicker to break down.

Do you mean soak it for old birds in there mix and the ybs ?

I always soaked for both Neil, a batch for both the night before. My wife said I was like Heston Blumenthal with the birds. always looking for something.

Would it not have been easier to buy cribb maize
I don’t really feed my babies maize at weaning I tend to feed high easy to digest protein / fats for a few days

The question was really aimed at a race mix though

[NeilA]

Not sure on popcorn maize. I see that VL are using quite a bit of black maize in their mixes. Not something I ever heard of when farming so has been developed for some reason. What’s your thoughts on the black maize Neil? You look into mixes far more than I do.

It seems odd to me but I have read about more vitamins in it
Not sure if there more starch/ sugar in it though which I would think is what your looking for in maize for the carbs
I don’t really now enough about it Andy but I see VL are doing a version of Gerry plus with black maize now

[Andy]

Not sure on popcorn maize. I see that VL are using quite a bit of black maize in their mixes. Not something I ever heard of when farming so has been developed for some reason. What’s your thoughts on the black maize Neil? You look into mixes far more than I do.

It seems odd to me but I have read about more vitamins in it
Not sure if there more starch/ sugar in it though which I would think is what your looking for in maize for the carbs
I don’t really now enough about it Andy but I see VL are doing a version of Gerry plus with black maize now

We fed a very high proportion of maize silage to our high yielding cows because of the extra energy it provided. Had to put soya meal and concentrates into the mix to increase the protein level otherwise the butterfat % would drop drastically in the milk.

[NeilA]

Not sure on popcorn maize. I see that VL are using quite a bit of black maize in their mixes. Not something I ever heard of when farming so has been developed for some reason. What’s your thoughts on the black maize Neil? You look into mixes far more than I do.

It seems odd to me but I have read about more vitamins in it
Not sure if there more starch/ sugar in it though which I would think is what your looking for in maize for the carbs
I don’t really now enough about it Andy but I see VL are doing a version of Gerry plus with black maize now

We fed a very high proportion of maize silage to our high yielding cows because of the extra energy it provided. Had to put soya meal and concentrates into the mix to increase the protein level otherwise the butterfat % would drop drastically in the milk.

Same reason I wouldn’t feed it in a breeding mix or when ybs are weaned as it’s high carb low protein only really useful towards the end of the week with me
Devo likes it for ybs in the past so I guess it worked well for him

[Buster121]

I used it when feeding straights to all birds young and old, also sometimes in the mix I now use

[Diamond Dave]

I just thought maize was maize. How would I recognise the differences between all the different kinds of maize and their nutritional values - does anyone know of a chart somewhere please?

[NeilA]

I just thought maize was maize. How would I recognise the differences between all the different kinds of maize and their nutritional values - does anyone know of a chart somewhere please?

Probably a google Dave
I think there make up is the same carb protein etc or not much difference just I new from Anthony pop corn breaks down slowly
SS Seeds have straight maize for sale with photos so you could look at there options to see the different types or some of them

[Diamond Dave]

Every day is a school day on this site.
I did google it Neil and unsurprisingly discovered that popcorn maize is just that, it is maize that has been prepared for making popcorn, so it is actually dried to 14% moisture content and then polished - Im guessing you all already knew that anyway.
I am a cabinet maker and I know that 12 -14% is the same as kiln dried hardwood.
So I can see why ppl want to soak it before feeding but I would imagine that soaking it would take much longer due to the polishing process. - Would overnight be enough, I dont know!
Now I am no nutritionist but TBH I would have to ask if there is any feed value left in it because it would be like feeding wood.
I dont think I would want it in a distance mix somehow.