Breeding Mix

In my last post I promised to post the breeding mix I have custom mixed for myself. Here it is!

16 % Corn
5% Western Wheat
10% Red Milo
10 % White Milo
5% Oat Groats
10 % Paddy Rice
4% Safflower
2% Sunflower
3% Canola (Rape)
5% Hemp Seed
3% Millet
2% Canary Seed
2% Vetch
1% Mung Beans
7% Toasted Soybeans
4% Maple Peas
6% Green Peas
2% Lentils
100% Total

Nutrient Analysis
· Raw Fat – 9.5%
· Raw Protein – 15.1%
· Digestible Protein – 8.0%
· Carbohydrate – 54 %
· Kilo Cal – 3406
· Fibre – 6.6%

Per day a pigeon eats approximately 30 gm of feed. This mix would provide 2.4 gm of digestible protein, 2.9 gm fat and about 16.2 gm of carbohydrate. Of course while pumping youngsters the amount of feed consumed goes up greatly.

The Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio of this mix is 4:1. This was achieved by cutting back on the Safflower and Sunflower and increasing the amount of small oil seeds, especially flax. By adding toasted soybeans and hemp seed we ensure that all the essential amino acids are present in adequate amounts. By not depending on the usual 30 to 40% peas in the mix for our protein source we are increasing the total digestible protein of the mix. The amount of digestible protein is a more important number than the raw protein. A high amount of raw protein is meaningless unless we understand what the source of the protein is. Feathers are 100% protein but the digestibility of the protein in feathers is nil.

Some may question the Raw Protein amount of this mix (15.1%). High amounts of protein (over 18 %) are a total waste of money as any amount higher than 18% cannot be used and is converted to carbohydrate. The process of converting the protein to carbohydrate has as a waste by-product the nitrogen portion of the protein. The conversion of the protein and the elimination of the nitrogen portion over taxes the liver and kidneys.

Because the high proportion of small seeds in this mix you have to remember to get your arm into the bag once in a while to stir it up as the small seeds do have a tendency to settle towards the bottom of the bag.

I ordered 1,000 lbs of this mix from Baden Feeds located in Baden, Ontario Canada and my cost was $21.00 Canadian per 50# bag. (Jan. 2009)