The protein content of oats can vary from 7 to 14 per cent and their digestibility from 60 to 80 per cent. As a result, it is worthwhile obtaining laboratory analysis of protein content and digestibility before feeding oats to stock. Oats are unlikely to cause acidosis, since they have a higher fibre content than wheat or barley. Lupins Lupins have a high energy and protein content, and a digestibility equal to that of wheat and barley. The starch content of lupins is low, and much of their energy is in the form of protein and oil.
Lupins ferment more slowly in the rumen than high-starch grains like wheat.
There is less risk of acidosis when feeding lupins to sheep compared with other more starchy grains. The quality of roughages is variable. Fresh green pasture can be high in both energy and protein at the start of the growing season, but its quality declines as it matures. The quality of hay, in particular the protein content, is determined by the time of cutting and the weather before baling. Hay is often cut late to avoid spoilage caused by rain, but the result is that it is relatively poor in quality.