If you've been looking directly into using oat hay for cows , you've probably noticed it's one of those forage options that will gets a lot of mixed reviews depending on who else you talk in order to. Some farmers claim by it like a cost-effective way to keep your herd full, while others worry regarding nitrate levels or even lack of protein. The truth is definitely, oat hay can be an complete lifesaver for the cattle operation in case you know whenever to use this and exactly what to look for before you buy a stack.
It's not just "straw with a several seeds in it. " When it's harvested correctly, oat hay is a high-energy, highly palatable forage that cows generally go crazy for. But like something else in ranching, there's a little bit of a studying curve to obtaining it right. Let's breakdown why a person might want it in your barn and where a person need to be careful.
Exactly what Exactly is Oat Hay?
Many people get oat hay confused with oat straw, but these people aren't the same thing at just about all. Straw is what's left over after the grain has been harvested—it's yellow, dry, plus mostly just "belly filler" with quite little nutritional value. Oat hay for cows , on the particular other hand, is usually the entire vegetable cut while it's still green.
The wonder occurs when you reduce the oats during the "milk stage. " This is that brief window whenever the grain head is formed, yet if you squeeze a kernel, the milky white water comes out. From this point, the plant still has plenty of sugar in the particular stem and the grain is loaded with energy, however the stalk hasn't changed into tough, woody fiber yet. If you wait until the grain is not easy (the dough stage), the quality starts to drop. If a person cut it as well early, you drop from the tonnage. It's a balancing act.
The particular Nutritional Breakdown
When you're comparing oat hay for cows to something similar to alfalfa, the first thing you'll notice is the protein. Oat hay usually sits somewhere between 8% plus 12% protein. That's significantly less than a high-quality alfalfa, which can easily strike 18% or 20%.
Nevertheless, protein isn't the entire story. Oat hay is often larger in energy (TDN - Total Digestible Nutrients) than several grass hays. Due to the fact of those feed heads, it's the bit like giving a mix of forage and also a tiny bit of focus all at as soon as. For a dried out beef cow just trying to keep her weight via a chilly winter, 10% protein is generally plenty.
The fiber within oat hay is also quite digestible, provided it wasn't cut too late. This helps keep the rumen moving and provides that "scratch factor" that cattle need to stay fit. Plus, the sugar content in the stems makes it smell sweet, which usually is why you'll rarely see the cow turn her nose up in it.
The Big Red Banner: Nitrates
We all can't talk about oat hay for cows with out mentioning the "N" word: Nitrates. Rolled oats are notorious for being "nitrate accumulators. " If the crop experiences stress—like an abrupt drought, the frost, or actually too much nitrogen fertilizer—it can soak up nitrates from the particular soil and hold onto them in the lower part of the stalk.
If a cow eats hay with high nitrate levels, it interferes with her blood's ability to carry oxygen. In mild cases, it may cause abortions within pregnant cows. Within severe cases, it could be fatal.
Does this entail you should avoid oat hay? Not really at all. This just means a person must test it. Any trustworthy seller must have the lab analysis ready, or you may grab a test and send it off yourself. When the nitrates are usually slightly elevated, you are able to still feed it; you just possess to "dilute" it by mixing this with other varieties of hay. It's an easy safety step that will prevents a great deal of heartbreak afterwards on.
Who else Benefits Most through Oat Hay?
Not every pet in your herd offers the same specifications, so you have to be strategic about where the oat hay for cows goes.
Beef Cows (The Main Target)
For your own standard beef cow, oat hay is a fantastic winter feed. If she's in the girl second trimester and just hanging out, oat hay can frequently meet all her nutritional needs. As soon as she hits the particular third trimester or even starts nursing the calf, you'll probably need to supplement which includes protein (like a lick tub or even a bit associated with alfalfa) for making upward for the actual oats lack.
Lower legs and Yearlings
Because it's therefore tasty, oat hay is an excellent "starter" feed for weaned calves. This gets them to the bunk plus eating quickly. Given that it's high in energy, it helps all of them keep their condition. Just keep a good eye on the particular protein—growing calves require more of this than oat hay usually provides on its own.
The Dairy Problem
If you have high-producing dairy cows, oat hay usually isn't the primary forage. They require that massive protein hit from alfalfa to keep milk products production up. However, many dairy farmers use oat hay for "dry cows" (cows that aren't currently milking) or as being a fiber supply inside a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) in order to keep the rumen stable.
Palatability and the "Sorting" Problem
One thing you'll notice when feeding oat hay for cows is that they really, really like it. Sometimes a lot of. When the hay provides large, heavy materials heads, you may find your cows "sorting" with the bale. They'll toss the particular stems aside to get to the "oatmeal" at the particular top.
To stop this, it helps to feed this in a way that minimizes waste. Utilizing a round bale feeder with the skirt at the end can keep the good bits from falling onto the floor where they'll obtain stepped on. If you're feeding small squares, try in order to flakes it out there in a clean area. If you find they may be making too many stems behind, it might be a sign the hay was reduce a little too late and the particular stalks are very hard.
Buying plus Storage Tips
If you're out looking for the load of oat hay for cows , use your feelings. * Color: It should be a light green or a "golden green. " If it's bright yellow like hay, the nutrients have probably bleached out or it was cut way too late. * Smell: It should scent sweet and clean. If you scent anything musty or moldy, walk away. Oats can become thick-stemmed, and when they will weren't cured properly before baling, they are prone to internal mold. * The Squeeze Test: Grab a handful and press. It should feel somewhat soft. If it feels like you're holding a handful of wooden skewers, it's too older and the cows won't digest this well.
Also, check for weeds. Oat fields may sometimes be messy, and you don't wish to pay for a bale that's 30% thistles or fireweed.
Mixing up Up
One of the best methods to use oat hay for cows is because a "stretcher. " If you have got a limited supply of expensive alfalfa, you can feed a 50/50 mix associated with alfalfa and oat hay. The cows obtain the protein they need from your alfalfa and the energy and fiber they require from the rolled oats.
It's the great way to transition cows onto different pastures. If you're shifting them from the dry winter lot to a lush natural spring pasture, putting out some oat hay can help decrease their digestion of food and stop the "green scours" that take place when they eat as well much rich lawn too fast.
So, What's the particular Verdict?
At the end of the day, oat hay for cows is really a versatile, high-energy give food to that can save you lots of money in the event that you manage it right. It fills the gap in between low-quality straw and high-cost alfalfa completely.
Keep in mind the golden guidelines: check the maturation (milk stage is best), always—and I actually mean always—test for nitrates, create certain the protein levels match what your cows actually need at their current phase of life. If you do all those three things, you'll likely find that oat hay gets a staple within your feeding program. It's good for the particular cows, and usually, it's pretty great for the checkbook too.