# Presentation: 541755

## Feeding Value of Oats in Livestock Diets

**Dr. Greg Lardy**

## Outline

**Introduction**
**Comparison of oats to other feed grains**
**Role of oats in livestock rations**
**Opportunities for the future**

## United States Oat Production 

**USDA NASS, 2006**

## Top 5 Oat Producing States (2005)

**Wisconsin (20.6 million acres)**
**North Dakota (19.8 million acres)**
**South Dakota (19.4 million acres)**
**Minnesota (18.4 million acres)**
**Iowa (16.8 million acres)**

**USDA NASS, 2006**

## Nutrient Content of Selected Feed Grains

|  | Oats | Corn | Barley | Wheat |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TDN, % | 77 | 90 | 88 | 88 |
| NEg, Mcal/lb | 0.55 | 0.70 | 0.64 | 0.68 |
| CP, % | 13.6 | 9.8 | 13.2 | 14.2 |
| UIP, % CP | 17 | 55 | 27 | 23 |
| NDF, % | 29.3 | 10.8 | 18.1 | 11.8 |
| ADF, % | 14.0 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 4.2 |

**NRC, 1996**

## Relative Rates of Ruminal Starch Fermentation

**Stock and Britton, 1986**
**Herrera-Saldana et al., 1990**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Where does oats fit in livestock rations?**
**What are the nutrients needed?**
**What are the attributes of oats which make it an attractive feed?**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Beef cattle**
**Can be used in a wide variety of applications**
**Growing and finishing**
**Forage supplement**
**Creep feeding**
**Dairy cattle**
**Can also be used in a wide variety of diets**
**Question:****	****Cost effectiveness relative to other feed grains**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Processing**
**Little processing is needed in most cases**
**Cattle, especially younger animals, ruminate adequately to break oats into smaller particle sizes**

## Effect of Oat Processing Method on Cattle Performance

|  |  | Oats |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Steam Flaked Corn | Dry Rolled | Steam Rolled- Course | Steam Rolled- Thin |
| DMI, kg | 7.95 | 9.20 | 9.27 | 8.97 |
| ADG, kg | 1.64 | 1.53 | 1.59 | 1.38 |
| F:G | 4.85 | 6.01 | 5.85 | 6.50 |
| Diet NEg | 1.59 | 1.27 | 1.31 | 1.19 |

**Zinn, 1993; J. Anim. Sci**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Anti-nutritional factors**
**None apparent**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Energy content**
**Lower than other cereal grains due to the presence of the hull **
**24 to 30% of the kernel weight**
**Decreases with lower test weight due to greater hull proportion**
**Light Wt Oats under 30 lbs -- 66% TDN**
**Medium Wt 30 to 34 lbs -- 69% TDN**
**Heavy Oats 35 lbs and up -- 72% TDN**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Protein content**
**Greater than corn**
**Greater proportion of degradable protein (protein needed by the ruminal microorganisms)**
**Mineral content**
**Low in calcium, high in phosporus**
**Similar to other feed grains**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Equine market**
**Oats is very popular among horse owners**
**Bulky**
**Unlikely to cause digestive disturbances**
**Protein content higher relative to corn**
**Can be fed whole, rolled or crimped**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Equine market**
**Supplemental calcium, vitamin, and trace minerals are required**
**Growing horses**
**Supplemental protein and/or amino acids may also be needed depending on forage quality**

## Oats as a Feed Grain

**Hull-less or naked oats**
**Increased nutrient density (energy, protein, fat) relative to hulled oats**
**Successful feeding in ruminant diets requires careful feeding management**
**Specialty markets, esp. monogastrics, may see more widespread adoption**
**Energy density**

## Summary

**Oats is a useful livestock feed**
**Major use is in the equine market**
**Lower energy density (safer) and increased protein content **
**Use in cattle feeds is declining**
**Cost per unit of energy **
**Still a popular creep feed**

## Questions??