Oats normally have almost 90 percent of the energy value of barley and contain more fiber than barley of corn. They can vary considerably in protein, fiber and energy.
Oats are a palatable feedstuff and may be safely included at high levels in the grain ration. They should be fed rolled or ground for maximum utilization. In grain mixtures where a high level of energy is required, such as for high-producing cows, oats should not be the major ingredient due to their lower energy value relative to corn and barley. In this case, they should make up no more than 33 percent of the grain mix. Calves can digest whole oats effectively because they chew their feed more thoroughly than cows.
TYPICAL ANALYSIS:
| Dry matter | 89 % |
| Crude Protein | 12.0 % |
| Fat | 04.5 % |
| Crude fiber | 12.0 % |
| Neutral Detergent Fiber | 28.5 % |
| Acid Detergent Fiber | 14.2 % |
| Calcium | 0.07 % |
| Phosphorus | 0.35 % |
| Total Digestible Nutrients | 68.0 % |
| Net energy—Lactation | 70.2 Mcal/100 lbs |