Adding oats to feed to reduce feed cost

Pen_1 · Post by **Pen_1** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:13 pm

In an effort to reduce the cost of feed I have considered adding oats to our feed after reading this paper http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AN/AN03100.pdf Oats offer higher protein and lysine levels than corn. The downside of oats are they have 80% of the energy of corn, so the feed intake will be slightly higher when feeding oats. I will consult with my feed mill before going any further, but found this paper interesting and thought I would share.....thoughts?

SpotShowDad · Post by **SpotShowDad** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:43 pm

We use steam rolled oats in our ration to the tune of 100 lbs per ton. We don't necessarily use them to cheapen the cost rather for the lysine content and the added fiber. I think once you talk to your feed mill you will realize they will not help to reduce cost. We are giving $16.00 per bag for steam rolled which at 32 lb/bushel is $10.24 per bushel. Even whole oats are not viable option. My dad works at the local coop in central Indiana and whole oats are $12.00/bag or $7.68 per bushel the stores cost. Hope this helps. Mark

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:33 pm

Its going to be more expensive to feed oats and it isnt nearly as easy for a hog to convert oats compared to corn. They can to an extent but you wont get the same rate of gain as with corn. The pigs will be filled out more. Theres a reason why people are using oats to fill rather than push a hog.