EVALUATION OF HIGH FAT OATS IN RATIONS OF GROWING AND FINISHING RUMINANTS

Abstract

Growth and digestion trials were conducted to evaluate high fat oats (HFO) with Holstein calves, beef calves, yearling steers and wether sheep. In trial 1, 20 Holstein calves were fed calf starter diets containing either 90.2% HFO or regular oats (RO). Daily feed intake (3.31 vs. 3.23 kg), average daily gain (0.88 vs. 0.81 kg) and feed/gain ratios (3.80 vs. 4.03) were not different (P > 0.05) for the HFO- and RO-fed calves. Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and gross energy (GE) were similar (P > 0.05) for the two treatments; however, digestion coefficient of ether extract (EE) was higher (P < 0.10) for the HFO diet compared to RO diet. In trial 2, 72 beef calves were self-fed diets containing 50% ground barley straw with six treatment grain mixtures (barley, HFO, RO, wheat, barley + faba beans, and RO + 3.6% tallow). Daily feed consumption and feed/gain were not different (P > 0.05) among the six treatments. However, animals receiving barley and 15% faba bean diet gained significantly (P < 0.05) less than the other treatments. In trial 3, 72 finishing steers were assigned to dietary treatments involving barley, RO, HFO, tallow and Ralgro implant. Feed consumption, average daily gain and feed efficiency ratios were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. Addition of tallow to a RO diet fed to wether sheep (trial 4) decreased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibilities of DM and GE but HFO were similar (P > 0.05) in digestibility to RO.