Publication Date

1997

Description

Oat forage (Avena sativa), which has low soluble carbohydrates (SC) and high soluble protein (SP) content, can reduce liveweight gain of grazing animals; supplementation with grain and low degradability protein may serve to counteract the effect. A grazing trial was carried out on two soils with different nitrogen (NO3 -) availability, from 16 April 1994 to 6 September 1994. Steers were randomly allocated to 3 treatments: low nitrogen (LN), high nitrogen (HN) and high nitrogen with supplementation (HNS). Forage of LN showed lower SP (p<0.05) during the first month of grazing, and higher SC (p<0.05), than HN during the first two months of the trial. Animal liveweight gain was: 892, 909 and 775 g/an/day for LN, HNS and HN, respectively, with animals in HN of significantly lower liveweight gain (p<0.05). Under the conditions of this trial, animals grazing on oat forage with lower SC and higher SP had lower liveweight gain and responded to supplementation.

Share

COinS
 

Oat Grazing: Forage Composition and Supplementation Response

Oat forage (Avena sativa), which has low soluble carbohydrates (SC) and high soluble protein (SP) content, can reduce liveweight gain of grazing animals; supplementation with grain and low degradability protein may serve to counteract the effect. A grazing trial was carried out on two soils with different nitrogen (NO3 -) availability, from 16 April 1994 to 6 September 1994. Steers were randomly allocated to 3 treatments: low nitrogen (LN), high nitrogen (HN) and high nitrogen with supplementation (HNS). Forage of LN showed lower SP (p<0.05) during the first month of grazing, and higher SC (p<0.05), than HN during the first two months of the trial. Animal liveweight gain was: 892, 909 and 775 g/an/day for LN, HNS and HN, respectively, with animals in HN of significantly lower liveweight gain (p<0.05). Under the conditions of this trial, animals grazing on oat forage with lower SC and higher SP had lower liveweight gain and responded to supplementation.