THE FEEDING VALUE OF OAT FEED FOR DAIRY COWS*
By A. W. LATHROP AND G. BOHSTEDT
University of Wisconsin
The feeding value of oat feed, a by-product of the preparation
of table cereals from oats (defined 1 as oat hulls, usually reground,
oat shorts and oat middlings obtained in fhe first hulling of the
oats) has been much discussed, and but little studied.
The analysis ~ of oat feed compares with that of timothy hay,
wheat bran, and hominy feed as follows:
TOTAL - - DIGESTIBLE
Carbohydrates
FEEl) Crude N-free Crude Total
Water Ash Protein Fiber Extract Fat Protein Nutrients
Oat feed .................. 6.5 6.2 5.5 27.4 52.4 2.0 4.1 43.3
Wheat bran .......... 10.1 6 3 16.0 9.5 53.7 4.4 12.5 60.9
Timothy hay .......... 11.6 4.9 6.2 29.8 45.0 2.5 3.0 48.5
Hominy feed ........ 10.1 2.6 10.6 4.4 64.3 8.0 7.0 84.6
The fiber and total digestible nutrients content of oat feed
are a little lower than those of timothy hay while the digestible
crude protein content is a little higher. On this basis it is reasoned
that the feeding value of the two feeds is about the same.
In the general way, such an inference seems reasonable until experimental
evidence is available.
A feeding trial with dairy cows at Massachusetts '~ indicated
that oat feed was "slightly superior" to timothy and mixed grass
hay when replacing about one-third of the hay component of the
ration for milking cows.
Plan of Two Experiments with Oat Feed
To study the effect of this feed when introduced into the ration
as a component of the concentrate mixture, two experiments
were planned and completed as here described. Five Holstein
cows averaging about 1250 pounds in live weight were used per
lot in these two experfments, and fed for eighteen weeks on the
double reversal plan. Corn silage and timothy hay were fed as
roughages. In both experiments the check concentrate mixture
*The work was supervised by the Department of Animal Husbandry of the Wisconsin
Agricultural Experiment