Oat Quality for Animal Fodder

For animal fodder a high quality oat has large, light grains with a thin husk. The energy content of unhulled oat is lower than that of other cereals. The feed value of oat can be improved by hulling (removing the husk from the grain/kernel) it before use, after which its feed value is comparable with corn and wheat. The share of the husk in the weight of the grain varies between 23% and 30%. 

Oats contains more fat (5-7%) than other cereals. The fatty acid composition of oat is better than that of other cereals. This high fat content makes oat a valuable, energy rich fodder cereal for feeding all kinds of animals. 

Oats contains more raw protein than other cereals with particularly high levels of lysine. Their high fibre content is good for poultry promoting good digestion and gizzard activity which keeps the birds calm. The proportion of oats in the chicken feed mixtures is about 20%, but its share can be increased to 50% towards the end of the egg laying season. Oats also improve the quality of the egg shell as well as the fatty acid composition and nutritional value of the eggs. 

Oats are also beneficial for sows and piglets. Adding oat to the feed mixtures of pigs improves their stomach health, prevents diarrhea, constipation and gastric ulcers. Hulled oats are a good raw material for piglet feed.

Effect of Sulphur Application on the Crude Protein of Oats

Oats are notoriously used for horses being considered to be the best cereal feed. The oats higher fat content increases the energy value and the starch is mainly in the form of easily digestible amylose. Corn can be easily replaced by oats in horse feed. 

Nitrogen and sulphur fertilization is important when growing for fodder as both have improved liveweight gain for livestock when the applications are optimized.

Recommended Yara Fertilizers for Oats

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YaraMila ACTYVA S

16-6.6-12.4 + 2.6% S - Granular fertilizer often used for winter cereals and oilseed rape to supply phosphate and potash together with nitrogen and sulphur.

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YaraBela AXAN

27% N + 3.6% S - Uniform compound granular nitrogen and sulphur fertilizer for use on all crops.

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YaraVita GRAMITREL

A flowable liquid fertilizer with a balanced combination of micronutrients including manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc for foliar application to cereals.

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YaraVita MANTRAC PRO

A flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 500 g/l of manganese for application as a foliar spray or seed treatment to a wide range of crops to treat or prevent manganese deficiency.

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YaraVita MAGFLO 300

A flowable liquid fertilizer containing 300 g/l magnesium for foliar application to cereals and potatoes or treat magnesium deficiency in a wide range of crops.

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YaraVita MANCOZIN

A flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing manganese, copper and zinc for foliar application to treat micronutrient deficiencies on cereals and broadacre crops.