Is Oat Hay for Cows In fact Any Good?
If you've been looking in to using oat hay for cows , you've probably noticed it's one of these forage options that gets a great deal of mixed evaluations depending on who else you talk to. Some farmers claim by it as being a cost-effective way to keep your herd full, while some worry about nitrate levels or even lack of protein. The truth will be, oat hay can be an overall lifesaver for a cattle operation in case you know whenever to use this and what to look for before you buy the stack.
It's not just "straw with a few seeds in this. " When it's harvested correctly, oat hay is really a high-energy, highly palatable forage that cows generally go crazy for. But like anything at all else in ranching, there's a little bit of an understanding curve to getting it right. Let's tenderize why you might want it in your barn and where a person need to become careful.
Exactly what Exactly is Oat Hay?
A lot of people get oat hay confused with oat straw, but these people aren't the same thing at all. Straw is what's left over after the particular grain has been harvested—it's yellow, dry, and mostly just "belly filler" with extremely little nutritional value. Oat hay for cows , on the particular other hand, will be the entire herb cut while it's still green.
The wonder happens when you reduce the oats during the "milk stage. " This is that will brief window whenever the grain mind is formed, yet if you squeeze a kernel, a milky white water comes out. In this point, the plant still has lots of sugar in the stem and the grain is loaded with energy, however the stalk hasn't changed into tough, woody fiber yet. If you wait until the particular grain is hard (the dough stage), the particular quality starts in order to drop. If a person cut it too early, you lose out on the tonnage. It's an evening out act.
The particular Nutritional Breakdown
When you're looking at oat hay for cows in order to something like alfalfa, the first thing you'll notice is the protein. Oat hay usually sits somewhere between 8% plus 12% protein. That's significantly lower than the high-quality alfalfa, which can easily hit 18% or 20%.
However, protein isn't the whole story. Oat hay is often larger in energy (TDN - Total Digestible Nutrients) than numerous grass hays. Due to the fact of those grain heads, it's the bit like serving a mix associated with forage plus a tiny bit of focus all at as soon as. For a dried out beef cow just trying to maintain her weight via a chilly winter, 10% protein is usually plenty.
The fiber in oat hay is also quite digestible, provided it wasn't cut in its final stages. It helps keep the particular rumen moving and provides that "scratch factor" that cows need to stay fit. Plus, the sugar content in the particular stems makes it smell sweet, which is why you'll rarely see the cow turn the girl nose up from it.
The Big Red Flag: Nitrates
All of us can't talk regarding oat hay for cows with no mentioning the "N" word: Nitrates. Oats are notorious for being "nitrate accumulators. " If the particular crop experiences stress—like a sudden drought, the frost, or also too much nitrogen fertilizer—it can absorb nitrates from the soil and hold onto them within the lower portion of the stalk.
In case a cow eats hay with high nitrate levels, it disrupts her blood's ability to carry oxygen. In mild cases, it could cause abortions within pregnant cows. Within severe cases, it could be fatal.
Does this lead to you should avoid oat hay? Not really at all. It just means you must test it. Any trustworthy seller must have the lab analysis prepared, or you may grab a trial and send it off yourself. If the nitrates are slightly elevated, you can still feed it; you just possess to "dilute" this by mixing it with other sorts of hay. It's an easy safety step that prevents a lot of heartbreak afterwards on.
Who else Benefits Most from Oat Hay?
Not every pet in your herd offers the same needs, 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 her second trimester and just hanging out, oat hay can usually meet all her nutritional needs. As soon as she hits the third trimester or even starts nursing a calf, you'll most likely need to supplement with some protein (like a lick tub or even a bit of alfalfa) to create upward for what the rolled oats lack.
Calf muscles and Yearlings
Because it's so tasty, oat hay is a great "starter" feed for weaned calves. This gets them to the bunk and eating quickly. Since it's full of power, it helps all of them keep their situation. Just keep a good eye on the protein—growing calves need more of it than oat hay usually provides upon its own.
The Dairy Problem
If a person have high-producing dairy products cows, oat hay usually isn't the primary forage. They require that massive protein hit from alfalfa to keep whole milk production up. However, many dairy maqui berry 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) to keep the rumen stable.
Palatability and the "Sorting" Problem
Something you'll notice whenever feeding oat hay for cows is that these people really, love this. Sometimes too much. In case the hay provides large, heavy materials heads, you might find your cows "sorting" through the bale. They'll toss the particular stems aside to get to the "oatmeal" at the particular top.
To prevent this, it helps to feed this in a way that minimizes waste. Utilizing a round bale feeder with the skirt at the bottom can keep the fine bits from dropping onto the floor where they'll obtain stepped on. In the event that you're feeding small squares, try to flakes it out in a clean area. If a person find they may be leaving too many comes behind, it may be an indicator the particular hay was reduce a little too late and the particular stalks are very difficult.
Buying and Storage Tips
If you're out looking for the load of oat hay for cows , use your senses. * Color: It must be a soft green or the "golden green. " If it's bright yellow like hay, the nutrients have got probably bleached away or it has been cut way too late. * Smell: It should scent sweet and fresh. If you scent anything musty or even moldy, walk apart. Oats can be thick-stemmed, and if they will weren't cured properly before baling, they are prone to internal mold. * The Squeeze Test: Grab the handful and squeeze. It should sense somewhat soft. If this feels like you're holding a handful of wooden skewers, it's too adult and the cows won't digest it well.
Also, check for weeds. Oat fields may sometimes be messy, and you don't want to pay for a bale that's 30% thistles or even fireweed.
Combining It Up
One particular of the best methods to use oat hay for cows is because a "stretcher. " If you have got a limited supply of expensive alfalfa, a person can feed the 50/50 mix associated with alfalfa and oat hay. The cows get the protein they need through the alfalfa and the energy and fiber they need from the rolled oats.
It's the great way to transition cows onto different pastures. If you're shifting them from a dry winter lot in order to a lush green spring pasture, putting out some oat hay can help reduce their digestive function and prevent the "green scours" that occur if they eat as well much rich lawn too fast.
So, What's the Verdict?
All in all, oat hay for cows is really a versatile, high-energy give food to that can save you a lot of money when you manage it right. It floods the gap between low-quality straw plus high-cost alfalfa completely.
Keep in mind the golden guidelines: check the maturation (milk stage is best), always—and I mean always—test for nitrates, create sure the protein amounts match what your cows really need at their current stage of life. If you do those three things, you'll likely find that will oat hay will become a staple in your feeding program. It's good for the particular cows, and usually, it's pretty great for the checkbook too.