How to increase oat feed value

Oats are often used for animal feed, being considered to be the best cereal feed for horses. Balanced crop nutrition is important to achieve the highest feed value with nitrogen and sulphur being important. The oats higher fat content increases the energy value and the starch is mainly in the form of easily digestible amylose.

Nitrogen and sulphur increase oat protein content

Oat protein content can be increased if nitrogen and sulphur fertilisation is optimised

Effect of nitrogen and sulphur on oat protein content

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.

Increased liveweight gain 

Nitrogen and sulphur fertilisation is important for the feed value of oat fodder as both have improved liveweight gain for livestock when the applications are optimized.

Effect of nitrogen and sulphur applications to oats on lamb growth rates

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Recommended Yara fertilisers for oats

YaraBela AXAN
27% N + 3.6% S - Uniform compound granular nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser for use on all crops.
YaraMila ACTYVA S
16-6.6-12.4 + 2.6% S - Granular fertiliser often used for grasland, winter cereals and oilseed rape to supply phosphate and potash together with nitrogen and sulphur.
YaraVita MANTRAC PRO
A flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser 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.
YaraVita GRAMITREL
A flowable liquid fertiliser with a balanced combination of micronutrients including manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc for foliar application to cereals.
YaraVita MAGFLO 300
A flowable liquid fertiliser containing 300 g/l magnesium for foliar application to cereals and potatoes or treat magnesium deficiency in a wide range of crops.
YaraVita MANCOZIN
A flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser containing manganese, copper and zinc for foliar application to treat micronutrient deficiencies on cereals and broadacre crops.
See all fertilisers choices

Agronomy advice related to oats

Do you really need straight nitrogen
Do you really need straight nitrogen
Before ordering your straight nitrogen it is worth considering how much you actually need as it may be you actually need NS or NPKS grades instead.
Don't forget about sulphur
Don't forget about sulphur
Sulphur was often overlooked in the past but today it is recognised as an essential nutrient and considered just as important as nitrogen, so not to be forgotten.
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Heavier fertiliser spreads further
Some fertilisers consistently spread further and more accurately than others. A heavier and larger fertiliser granule will spread further because the spreader can put more energy into it.
See all agronomy advice

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