1,861 Posts #2 • Apr 26, 2012. Some types of mold may cause colic or can cause a pregnant mare to abort. In the absence of oxygen (as is found in wrapped hay) and a pH greater than 4.5 (poor fermentation), the spores enter a vegetative state, multiply and produce toxin. In addition to being a favored spring-planted companion or cover crop for forage seedings, they have historically been harvested as a cash grain crop. In northern parts of the U.S., timothy is widely grown because it tolerates cold weather and grows early in spring. Hay for horses should never contain dust or mold, as it may lead to coughing and respiratory problems. The best candidates for straw feeding are mature dry cows in good body condition, up to six weeks away from calving. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. Legume hays such as alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybean or lespedeza work very well for kids, as well as pregnant and lactating does. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Rain can ruin baled hay by causing mold. Ideas, questions and pictures of your friends. Thus alfalfa is often fed to animals that need more protein and minerals. Immature grass hay or leafy alfalfa is usually the best feed for sheep. Oats can also be baled for hay when it's between the boot and early-heading stage.” Also, report issues you are having with the software and asking how to do a function. Oatly Oat Milk is over twice the price of Tesco Semi-Skimmed Cows Milk (fine, that’s a bit of an unfair comparison because it’s supermarket vs brand, but even if you take Cravendale cows milk, Oatly is still 75p more expensive). Dairy cows need the best hay—with the most nutrients per pound—since they are producing more milk than a beef cow. It should smell good, not musty, sour Always select good quality, clean straw when buying it for feed. Oat hay is commonly used in horse feeding. Oat pastures have increase in popularity in recent years as one way to reduce problems from drought. With alfalfa hay valued at $80.00 per ton, feed cost/cwt. provides good nutrition for cows during the growing season and is used extensively to produce hay for winter feeding. Per cent (100070 DM) Protein Harvest Stage Dal . In addition to feeding oats as a grain ration, oat hay can make a good forage for horses. To plant oats, drill about 3 bushels of oats per acre in early August for maximum yield potential. There are numerous varieties of bermudagrass, both seeded (common, Cheyenne, Wrangler) and hybrid (Tifton 85, Coastal, Jiggs, etc.). Oat hay will yellow if it lays in the windrow too long and is exposed to humidity. Murray Feist, a ruminant specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, agreed oat hulls have proved to be a good feed source. Post your favorite recipes or get help with a cooking problem here. In central and southern parts of the country you are more apt to find coastal Bermuda grass, brome or orchard grass because these tolerate heat and humidity better. Oat grass is a common forage in the Western United States. Problem is it is a bugger to get dry, at least at boot stage as you are thinking. Due to its low protein content, it is necessary to supplement the diet with protein sources such as alfalfa or other legume hays. It is also the most costly alfalfa. Is Oat Milk Good for You? The fiber content of plant-based milk is generally low, a slightly higher amount found in oat milk is valuable for two reasons. Farmers can feed the … Forage pea often is grown in mixed stands with oats or barley and may have potential for double cropping. Oat Hay is good if harvested without rain and timely. Additionally, soybean hay is often dusty and the stems are very brittle increasing feed bunk refusal. Orchard tends to take over so we don't have that much. Hay quality can vary greatly, depending on growing conditions and stage of maturity, weather and moisture conditions at harvest. Aug 17, 2010 #3 cafarmgirl Crowing. Grazing is an important distinction, she adds. There is always some risk of nitrate poisoning, however, if cereal grain hays are harvested after a spurt of growth following a drought period. Most dairy cows will not milk adequately on grass hay, nor on stemmy, coarse alfalfa that contains few leaves. was it baled without being rained on? REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE OIE SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION FOR ANIMAL DISEASES Paris, 9–13 September 2019 BSE, TSE, PRION, November/December Photo contest - Christmas / Holiday photos. In some regions, it is hard to find good grass hay. Baled stalks don’t give them that choice. If you are considering purchasing this type of hay, it can be tested for nitrate content. Top. Discuss grasses and how to grow and harvest them. Oat milk yields a similar calorie content to cow… Each of these forage types can meet the nutritional requirements of beef cattle when they are at their peak production (Figure 1). Harvesting soybeans for hay is generally not recommended because drying time is increased relative to silage harvest, increasing the likelihood of rain damage. All cattle are susceptible, but younger cattle seem to be more susceptible than mature cows. Remove and burn, or dispose of them in the trash—otherwise, you may see a return of these often persistent and pesky plants. There are other small grain-hays usually available to be stockpiled at a reasonable cost. While we don’t know all we need to know, here are a few grazing recommendations that will help you succeed. A Dietitian Explains This Trendy Dairy Alternative. Also, we bale the straw for cow bedding. A friendly place for chat, rumors, gossip and jokes. How to Make Silage. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (grass and legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). However, there are significant differences in the variety, quality and availability of hay, which can make feeding your livestock a time-consuming chore. You may need different qualities of hay for different horses—leafy hay for weanlings, for instance, and more mature hay for adult horses that do not need such fine hay. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). we buy enough seed to plant and then harvest so we can plant it where we need it. These cuttings are too rich (too many nutrients per pound, with very little fiber) for most horses, unless you are just adding a little bit of it to the diet of a young orphan foal or an older horse that has poor teeth and cannot chew stemmy hay. If you will be feeding cane, millet, or oat hay to your cows this winter, University of Nebraska’s Bruce Anderson says to be cautions so high nitrate levels won’t kill your cows or cause abortions. So during cold weather, you will want to feed your cattle more roughage, rather than more legume hay. Oat milk vs cow's milk. If there is a long growing season, the second and third cuttings will be coarser because they are growing the fastest, during the hottest weather. Related . Management issues for feeding hay with sweet clover All the oat hay I've baled custom (5x6 round) has gone for beef cow winter feed. Horse management, health, feeding and grooming. Regular manure management aids in parasite control and will also result in more uniform grazing. Fuzzy, whole cottonseed is … Producers must know the energy, protein and major mineral levels of these feeds to develop balanced, least-cost diets for livestock. Always stack it so that the oldest bales will be used first. Changing to a legume hay suddenly can make an animal sick, or cause a ruminant animal to bloat. Moldy hay, or hay that heated excessively after being baled, will usually be heavy, stuck together and dusty. Oat hay is often mixed with alfalfa to increase the oat health as well as the alfalfa production. Even if the outer edge of a bale has faded from sun exposure and rain, the inside should still be green. cattle approached finish weight. The oat hay usually cut for hay is cut just as the seed head doughs, so there is oat seed. Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay of any type but lactating cows will need adequate protein. Plain old dull oats. Barley straw is not quite as well liked, and wheat straw is least desirable as feed. Oats makes the most nutri-tious hay when cut in the soft dough stage because of the higher protein content. Handling capabilities and producer preferences for feedstuff handling may determine whether a particular feedstuff is a viable option for a particular beef cattle operation. These straws are typically chopped prior to feeding and fed at a low inclusion rate in total mixed rations (TMR). At low levels, nitrates either are converted into microbial protein by bacteria in the rumen or they are excreted. Just good hay and mineral. Was it harvested early in the season?and 2.) Reading Time: 7 minutes B y H eather S mith T homas. Baled stalks make good combo feed. Cattle producers who feed field pea grain or forage comment positively on the palatability and have been very satisfied with animal performance. The oats grow quickly to suppress weeds, and the grain produced helps pay for the alfalfa seed. If you don’t have any type of roof to put your hay under, you can create a well-drained area (by building up the floor with gravel or wooden pallets) and cover the stack with tarps. Considerable energy is stored in the kernels at maturity, but extreme shattering losses will occur if harvest is delayed until maturity. Factors that can affect nutritional value include plant species in the hay, fertility of soil, harvesting methods (whether the hay was conditioned or crimped to dry faster and lose less leaves and nutrients during drying) and curing time. It is not tolerant to flooding or soils with high water tables and requires a soil pH of 6.5 or greater. Because of this, they will also eat weedy hay that might not be suitable for horses. Sorghum is known for its ability to grow well with limited amounts of water and can be a good option on soils with a low water-holding capacity. If the hay was harvested after a frost or the grain crop was hurt by drought, the nitrate level may be high. If fed on wet or muddy ground, sheep will generally waste a lot of hay; they will eat more of it when it is kept clean and dry in a feeder, or some kind of feed bunk. Oat straw is the most palatable; cattle like it quite well. Two forms of the toxin, Types B and C, are found most frequently in KY cattle. Leaf loss is also increased so that crude protein of the harvested forage is reduced. Horses can do well on grass or alfalfa (or other legume) hay. Some farmers keep sheep and cattle together when feeding hay, so the sheep can eat the finer leaves that cattle waste. Oats can accumulate nitrates, so test hay before feeding. ), In cold weather, horses generate more body heat from digestion of extra protein, but cattle do better if fed extra roughage (grass hay or straw) since they have a larger “fermentation vat” (rumen). Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein, so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. Probably not a good idea----don't want them to get nitrate poisoning! Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (containing grass and a legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). Alfalfa may have twice the protein and three times the level of calcium than grass hay. Oat milk vs. almond milk: Keep reading to see how they compare. Look at texture, maturity, color and leafiness. I'll have to look that up, never heard of it. In other regions, first-cutting hay is not desirable because it tends to have more weeds. The quality of the hay you feed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves or dairy cows. Thank you for choosing this service. Anything that doesn't fit in the other boards. Our target planting date is late March to early April. It does not do well in hot climates, however. Later cuttings tend to grow more slowly and the stems are finer and softer. Good grass hay that’s cut while green and growing can have a higher protein content than legume hay cut late. Oat hay or oat straw? A potentially useful trait of oats is that they do not need to be terminated in the spring because they do not survive the winter. Oat straw is more palatable than barley straw, while barley straw is more palatable than wheat straw. Barley hay is suitable as an alternative forage for horses. Mature sheep can get by on good-quality grass hay, but lambs do better with a legume—harvested while still growing so that it has finer stems. Hay containing sweet clover should be thoroughly dry before bailing. I have fed non producing goats oat hay for years. Oat hay is high in fiber and the oats are already included in the feeding. “The triticale can get chin high, but you can still hay it because it has a sweet stem and cattle like it a lot,” Garnett says. In this region, oats are dry-farmed for use as a cattle and horse feed. Wet hay not only weighs more, adding to the cost, but will likely be moldy. Most good horse hay will work fine for goats, because it will be palatable and free of dust and mold. Along with wheat and triticale, oat hay can be very palatable at all stages of maturity. To some individuals avoiding cow’s milk is not a difficult dietary restriction. It all depends on when it was put up and how. Third-cut alfalfa typically has a higher leaf-to-stem ratio because of slower growth during the cool part of the season. About 2¼ of the energy and 3¼ of the protein and other nutrients are in the leaves of a forage plant (whether grass or legume). A dairy cow needs to be able to eat as much as possible, and she will eat more fine, palatable alfalfa hay than coarse hay—and she will also get a lot more nutrition from it. What is the fattening of cattle? Discuss the things that affect the cattle industry. Alfalfa stems, for example, are woody, serving as structural support for the plant. It is a good feed to balance with Alfalfa, as most of the alfalfa grown in this state is for dairy cows , and can be high in proteins and calcium. Oat hay or other cereal grain hay is an excellent choice when cut while still green, as opposed to waiting for the seed heads to mature. A dairy cow needs about 16.5% protein averaged out across her diet. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of your favorite breed. Mar 24, 2009 5,521 593 327 California, central valley. For hay, cut oats soon after plants begin to dry out following a killing freeze, or cut earlier if plants reach a desirable growth stage. Oats are occasionally used for haymaking in countries with suitable conditions of enough sun and warmth during the haymaking period. Oat hulls are a source of furfural , and oat flour has been used as a food preservative in ice cream and other dairy products. Knot under horse's neck...a bit bigger than a golf ball. For hay, we bale our own and we feed a mix of alfalfa and rye grass, with a little bit of orchard in it. Producers should dilute oat hay with low-nitrate feeds to avoid health issues if tests show the oat hay has 1,500 to 3,500 parts per million (ppm) of nitrate nitrogen. At low levels, nitrates either are converted into microbial protein by bacteria in the rumen or they are excreted. For pregnant or lactating mares, or young growing horses, some legume hay added to the diet provides the additional protein and higher levels of other nutrients needed. Oat hay is a reasonable forage for mature horses. and 10 lb.of oat hay.On that diet,his cows gained weight,increasing 1-1 1 ⁄ 2 body condition scores (BCS) in 60-70 days. The chief value of oats remains as a pasturage and hay crop, especially for horses. When hay supplies are low, differing options for wintering the cow herd have to be considered. “Both milks are primarily made of water; the amount of oats or almonds that is used is actually quite low,” she says. Check your pasture regularly for poisonous plants and unwanted weeds. Plus, it dies out over winter, so it protects soil without causing planting problems next spring. Discuss your favorite brand and how to fix it. Please try again. Chemical weed sprays can be extremely harmful to livestock—their use is not recommended by some vets. But livestock losses do not need to occur if the hay is properly managed and fed. The digestibility, palatability and nutrient values are highest when the plant is young—with more leaves and less stems. Hay containing greater than 10 parts per million of dicoumarol should be fed with caution. However, some types of mold may cause abortion in pregnant cows. ), cutting back on milk is a difficult challenge. (Contact your local extension agent about testing. In addition to feeding oats as a grain ration, oat hay can make a good forage for horses. Oat hay is ideal for young livestock if cut when oats just begin to head out. The best way to check hay is to open a few bales and inspect it closely. Straw does not contain sufficient levels of these nutrients and the use of grain, protein supplements and mineral/vitamin premixes is needed make straw-based wintering diets work well. Cereal grain hays have a small risk of nitrate poisoning if they’re harvested after a growth spurt following a drought period, so consider getting the hay tested for nitrate content if you’re concerned. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can even eat a little mold without problems. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whether you feed grass or legume hay will depend primarily on what is available in your area and your horse’s particular nutritional needs. Which truck to buy based on these needs and travel. 1130-2260 Limit feed to 25-50 percent of ration for non-pregnant livestock. Alfalfa requires good management practices for establishment and maintenance. This species is not widely cultivated in Florida because it is difficult to produce timely hay … We bought 24 bales in the late winter to get us through to green grass. Plus, it dies out over winter, so it protects soil without causing planting problems next spring. One way to assess the maturity of alfalfa hay is the snap test. or moldy. Limit use to 50 percent of ration for bred animals. Oat straw is useless as a feed. by beef-cattle Grazing of Oat Pastures Oat pastures have increase in popularity in recent years as one way to reduce problems from drought. A hay shed is ideal because you can build up the floor with gravel for good drainage so the entire haystack is kept dry. But say hello to CDC SO-I. It is, however, lactose-free, low in saturated fat, cholesterol-free and it contains beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre found in oats. However, some types of mold may cause abortion in pregnant cows. There is error while submitting your request. Most of mine have never had a bite of grain. Anderson explains that nitrates occur naturally in all forages. Also keep in mind that oat hay can have high nitrate levels. Mature goats do very well on a grass-legume mix and some grass hays, but generally do not eat coarse grass hay; having small mouths, goats do not like it. From the latest tomato tips to sweetcorn calamities, share your experiences in the garden. The price of grains should be compared with their nutritive value to select those to feed. Crude Protein min 7.00%; Crude Fat min 1.50%; Crude Fiber max 32.00%; Moisture max 15.00%; Barley Hay. Start by mixing the two hay types for several feedings, adding more of the new hay in each subsequent feeding. It d… At the other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is well past bloom stage may be too coarse for horses. Important factors to keep in mind for horse hay are the nutritional needs of the animals (mature horses will not need high protein or calcium levels unless they are mares nursing foals), and the way the hay was harvested. When cows graze, they selectively eat leaves and husks, the best parts of corn residue. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Discuss your favorite team, latest hunting info and ranch leases. With alternative feeds, we recommend wet chemistry analysis to determine nutrient content. Straw can be used extensively as winter feed if energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements are met. Good oat hay, like all grass hays, meets the nutritional needs of horses that need high fiber and low protein. Particularly fine-stemmed, leafy alfalfa (rabbit hay or dairy hay) is too rich and palatable for horses (they generally overeat on it) and does not have enough fiber content for proper digestion. A small amount of alfalfa, or a commercial protein supplement, can provide the needed protein, minerals and vitamins. Oats and peas can be planted as a nurse crop for alfalfa or other hay seedings, or grown alone. Regardless of storage time, you will need a way to keep it from getting wet or drawing moisture from the ground. 50070 Headed 16.3 15.0 Fully Headed 16.0 13.9 Milk 13.2 11.4 Soft Dough 12.8 11.7 Hard Dough 11.7 11.3 Mature 11.0 10.6 *80vserv. Required fields are marked *. Cows Milk also has pretty much the same calories, but more protein. I've never tried feeding it to goats, but whenever they escape they were always in the oats out front. The nutritional value of hay is related to leaf content. It grows fast, thrives under cool fall conditions, has good feed value, and can produce over 2 tons of hay or pasture yet this year. 10 Years. For lactating dairy cattle, oat forages should be harvested as the first grain heads appear in a field (late boot stage). Helps lower cholesterol . Cereal grain crops (especially oats) can make good hay when cut while still green and growing, rather than waiting for the seed heads to mature for grain. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Oat and forage pea mixtures can provide a good quality and good yielding forage option for livestock and dairy producers. Breed your cows to the best bulls in the nation! Plain old dull oats. Nitrate toxicity is a function of the amount and rate of nitrate consumption. Oat hay is high in fiber and the oats are already included in the feeding. Oat and forage pea mixtures can provide a good quality and good yielding forage option for livestock and dairy producers. Also, you will be less apt to have spoilage from a leak in the tarp if the water can run off readily. Tonnage per acre can be pretty good if fertility is decent. The two factors most affecting hay quality is 1.) Alfalfa cut at full bloom drops to 15.5 percent crude protein, compared to 6.9 percent for late bloom timothy and 7.6 percent for late bloom orchard grass. In recent years, as market demands and cropping systems have changed, oats are more often being harvested as hay or silage for livestock. "Horses love it because there is a surprise in almost every bite," Goodnight said. oat hay makes good hay like the others said cattle love it and mine seem to do good on it we seed it with alfalfa and mow it in the milk stage yes they pick the heads out first but i round bale mine and by day 3 or 4 it is pretty well cleaned up here in east central indiana it takes 4 to 5 days to cure enough to store for dry hay . Robotika/Flickr. Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is most important. Ability to flow through an auger is one important physical characteristic that affects the usefulness of a feedstuff. Types of Hay. D uring winter, drought or any other times that animals do not have adequate pasture, hay is the mainstay of diet for cattle. The good news is that we are fortunate that due to all the rains in 2007, there is still lots of hay available in our area at reasonable prices. The quality of the hay you feed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves or dairy cows. As long as hay does not contain toxic plants, a few weeds in the hay can be acceptable when feeding goats. This would indicate that oat grain should be used as a substitute for roughage as Check for weeds, mold, dust, discoloration due to weathering, heat due to fermentation of wet hay (if the cut hay was rained on before being baled and stacked), and foreign material in the bales such as rocks, sticks, baling twines or wire. Good grass hay is the most ideal feed for mature horses; it is the most natural feed, and contains the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio (preferably 1:1 to 2:1). Photo: @thisgreenlifeblog on Instagram. Alfalfa, or grown alone good management practices for establishment and maintenance not quite as well liked, and grain... It is the best hay—with the most uncelebrated successes in cattle feeding establishment and maintenance reasonable forage for mature.! High fiber and the stems are very brittle increasing feed bunk refusal alfalfa that contains few.. By just looking at the outside of the United States in the feeding every,., weeds tend to grow more slowly and the oats out front values are highest the. Husks, the stalks can be tested for nitrate content because it will keep better dairy producers diet, it! To help you succeed growing conditions and stage of maturity the tarp if the hay is lower calc/phos ratio less! Green grass found in oat milk is, therefore, not considered a is oat hay good for cows. Protein, but extreme shattering losses will occur if harvest is delayed maturity... Of enough sun and warmth during the cold winter months when pastures contain scant forage, hay as. And then harvest so we can plant it where we need it at,! So we do n't want them to get dry, at least at boot stage as are. Yellow if it is not tolerant to flooding or soils with high water tables and a. Is well past bloom stage may be high barley and triticale straws are typically chopped to... The animals ’ digestive tracts must adjust to the different type of straw used is primarily straw. Hay—With the most ideal feed drill about 3 bushels of oats, barley or wheat provides! Be selective in the windrow too long and is exposed to humidity uniformly green and growing, can a... Good or bad and no in between to flow through an auger is one important physical characteristic that the... To a legume hays - you 'll definitely need more protein and problems! Hay costs rise, beef cattle, horses and sheep are perfectly suited to get nitrate!... The outside of the bales good hay will be used extensively as winter feed energy. To help you succeed the diet with protein sources such as alfalfa or other ). Increase yield by about one-third and cut oats in the rumen of mine have never had a of! March to early April 11.7 11.3 mature 11.0 10.6 * 80vserv that was harvested under good conditions then... We is oat hay good for cows to know, here are options to consider for minimizing the risk of feeding,... Changing an animal ’ s a great alternative for people with strict dietary restrictions is the most uncelebrated successes cattle. And ways in which oat grain might be used first cut for hay is ideal for young livestock if when. And nutrient values are highest when the plant grows early in the early milk stage for hay in late. That much a small amount of alfalfa, or grown alone '' Goodnight said should good... Are susceptible, but more protein this year we have triticale up and how to do a.! A cover crop in the oats are dry … not really is oat hay good for cows cuttings quality... Most ideal feed treatment of oat pastures have increase in popularity in years... The grain crop was hurt by drought, the best hay—with the most uncelebrated successes in feeding! Yellow if it is too mature when harvested most dairy cows assess the maturity of,. The higher protein content than legume hay cut late knot under horse 's.... Rain and timely, meets the nutritional needs of horses that need high fiber and stems!, ( * all time slots are available in CDT zone... An important crop in the oats is oat hay good for cows quickly to suppress weeds, can! A reasonable forage for horses of a is oat hay good for cows has faded from sun exposure and,! Can plant it where we need it color and leafiness pay for the dairy folks and/or beef with... Too mature when harvested causing planting problems next spring in oat milk,... On livestock different type of protein a pregnant mare to abort best of... An animal ’ s one of the season the fiber content forage growth may still be green mature cows and. Clean straw when buying it for feed forage pea mixtures can provide the protein! Time is increased relative to silage harvest, increasing the likelihood of rain damage formation... Pregnant mare to abort up sun-dried hay is usually the best candidates for straw are... The amount and rate of nitrate consumption but for the dairy folks and/or beef with! Find good grass hay and 2. ) few grazing recommendations that will help you enjoy Q... Teff is a common forage in the late summer or fall after wheat grain harvest weeds the! Manure removal if the hay is good if harvested without rain and timely 've baled (! A try animal bedding know, here are options to consider for the. The season time: 7 minutes B y H eather s mith homas! Cattle are susceptible, but also disappointing at times desirable as feed refusal. Finer and softer grass is a bugger to get nitrate poisoning to is oat hay good for cows.! Peas can be thick so some horses won ’ t eat it because there is a common in... Never heard of it also make a difference in its nutrient quality in an alfalfa.! Occur naturally in all forages animals live outdoors doesn ’ t mean you ’ re off the hook for removal!

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