New high-energy oat varieties could offer cattle producers a low cost alternative to barley and corn.
Grant Zalinko of the University of Saskatchewan’s animal and poultry science department detailed how research is showing the potential for comparable weight gains in backgrounding diets from feeding similar amounts of corn, barley and oats. The problem lies in finding a way to convince cattle to eat their oats.
“If we can get cattle to eat an equivalent amount of this product, that should translate into an equivalent weight gain in cattle,” Zalinko said.
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He sees oats’ potential as a feed source in drought years when feed is scarce or expensive, providing an economical alternative for producers living in oat growing areas.
Processing or rolling oats for feeder calves did little to improve its feed efficiency, he said, which could represent further cost savings to producers.
In a feedlot finishing study, researchers found cattle ate more corn or barley than oats and gained more weight, but carcasses from oat fed diets were leaner with less marbling.
Zalinko said more acres of oats are expected to be planted this year because of the lower cost of production. Saskatchewan farmers planted 1.5 million acres last year, he added.
“If you’re in an oat growing area, this should be of interest to you.”
He described cereal grains as excellent sources of energy, phosphorus and trace minerals that produce higher weight gains, improved flavour and fat colour.
Cattle rapidly digest the oat starch in this high fibre product, he added.
Cereal grains were not traditionally fed to cattle, said Zalinko, who cautioned that high grain diets can cause liver abscesses.
Future research on the new feed oats, expected to be commercially available in two years, will focus on factors limiting voluntary intake of oats and ways to lower fat content. It will also examine how these oats might be effectively combined with other feeds in cattle diets.
The research combines the resources of the university’s poultry and animal science department, the Crop Development Centre, the Prairie Feed Resource Centre and Super Oats Canada Ltd.
