Bill Couser runs a beef cattle farm in central Iowa where he raises 10,000 cows on 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans. He views oats as a legume cover crop that fixes nitrogen and builds soil health. He was curious to find out how well oats would perform in cow feed and whether the extra cost would be worth it. Below are some facts about feeding oats to cows.
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Cost of feeding oats to cows
A study conducted by McCartney et al., shows that feeding oats to cows can save farmers approximately $500 per cow per day. Feeding grass alone would cost a farmer $6600 per cow per day, but stockpiled oats would save farmers an estimated $1,500 per cow per day. However, oats can be expensive if you aren’t able to harvest the whole crop and store it for a later time.
Oats have a lower energy content than corn, but are high in fiber and are a great source of fiber. Because of their lower energy content, oats are only appropriate for younger cattle and can be used as creep feed for nursing calves. Oats are expensive, so they aren’t an ideal choice for finishing diets. A high percentage of oats are hulled, which can reduce the energy content of the grain.
Value of oats as a feed
The growing popularity of oats as a cow food is a result of increasing consumer awareness of the health benefits of oats, as well as its increasing use in agriculture. This grain is becoming a popular replacement for wheat and barley as a primary feed ingredient. In addition, oats reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly choice for livestock farmers.
The energy content of oats is low, and it is also bulkier and less energy-dense than most other grains used for cattle and dairy cows. Oats contain a moderate amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The fat content is similar to that of corn, but oats are higher in linoleic acid, which helps protect the cow from free radicals.
Benefits of oats as a feed
Oats are a great source of energy for cattle and have a magical effect on cows’ performance. When used as 25% or more of the concentrate diet, oats can increase milk production and improve calf health. They also reduce digestive upsets, which makes them a popular choice for starting calves on feed. Despite being relatively expensive, oats are now available in high enough quality that they are used in a number of feed products, including weaning calf rations.
Oats are available in two forms: whole and dehulled. While dehulled oats are better for human consumption, naked oats are better for lactating cows and other animals. Oats have the highest fat content of all grains, ranging from 2% to 12% in the kernel. The fat content of oats is dominated by palmitic acid, which makes up the majority of oats. The remaining fraction of the grain is comprised of linolenic acid and linoleic acid.
Processed oats improve digestion
Compared to other grains, processed oats are a better source of dietary fibre than their hulled counterparts. Oats contain large amounts of dietary fibre and contain significant amounts of water soluble b-glucan, which helps balance blood glucose levels. However, cows need a higher amount of dietary fibre than sheep do. So, cows should be fed oats whole instead of the processed variety.
Oats contain alkali-soluble proteins, alcohol-soluble proteins, 2.9 percent salt-soluble fraction, and non-protein nitrogen. The protein content is increased by chemical modifications. Among other changes, acylation and succinylation improve solubility and binding properties. Succinylation, on the other hand, decreases oats’ water holding capacity and foaming stability.
Impact of oats on animal health
One question that has long baffled dairy producers is whether feeding oats to cows will have a positive effect on animal health. The impact has been studied with a novel synchrotron radiation molecular spectroscopy approach. Molecular structures of feeds vary dramatically based on the processing method used. To date, no study has examined how different processing methods affect nutrient availability and utilization.
The Australian Bureau of Agriculture has released preliminary harvest area and yield forecasts for the 2018/19 crop year. Compared to last year’s record, the global oat trade is expected to decline by 400,000 tons this year, despite the recent increase in oat production in Europe. However, oat imports from Asia will likely increase in 2018, with China proving to be one of the largest markets for oat feed.
