University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fall Oats an Alternate Forage Option

• Dr. Mike HutjensDairy Extension Specialist

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jim BaltzInstructional Design Specialist

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Learn Objective• The growing and feeding of a fall cereal grain

can be a viable forage resource

• With drought concerns in 2012,. fall oats can be an emergeny forage crop of dairy cattle.

• Guideline on growing and harvesting oat silage will be presented.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

We still have time,but make the yourdecision now!

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fall Oat Forage Selection• Maturity rating is important

– Early-season– Mid-season– Late-season

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

When to Plant Fall Oats?• Mid to Late July

– Use forage-type cultivar (such as ForagePlus Oats)

• Late Planting: Beyond 1st week of August– Consider using earlier-maturing, grain-type

cultivars

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Key Factor To Consider• Be aware of the potential for

herbicide carryover

• Availability of oat seed

• Rain and soil moisture status

• Early freeze vs. an adequate growing period

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Average Illinois Precipitation in Inches

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

1.97 1.99

3.22

3.834.31 4.12 3.94

3.693.24

2.873.34

2.73

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Illinois WeatherMedian Date of 28°F FreezeBased on 1981-2010 Averages

Oct 1 to 10

Oct 11 to 20

Oct 21 to 31

Nov 1 to 10

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Late Planted Oats: 12 August

Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

Yields of DM for four oat cultivars planted on about 12 August; data represent 2-year

means from a study conducted at Prairie du Sac, WI

(Coblentz and Walgenbach,

2010).

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yields of four oat cultivars planted on July 15 and August 1

Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

Data represent 3-year means from a study conducted at Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2011). Dane, Ogle, and Vista are grain-type cultivars that have early, mid, and late maturity ratings, respectively. ForagePlus is a forage-type cultivar that matures more slowly than Vista.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Oats vs Wheat Yield comparisons of (2) winter wheat and (4) oat

cultivars across three harvest dates during 2006-2007 at Prairie du Sac, WI

(Coblentz and Walgenbach, 2010).

Cultivars were established on 11 August 2006 and 13

August 2007.

Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Standing DM ConcentrationsStanding DM concentrations

for fall-grown oat forages harvested on 5 dates throughout the fall at

Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2011). All forages were planted on August 1, and means represent 3-year

averages. The red horizontal line (▬▬) represents the minimum concentration of DM for satisfactory silage

fermentation (30%).

Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Concentrations of NDF from oat forages planted on August 1 and harvested on five dates throughout the fall at Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2012).

Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Unique Quality Characteristics by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fiber composition of selected cereal-grain forages (NRC, 2001)

Forage NDF ADF Lignin Lignin(Headed) ------------- % of DM ------------- %

of NDFOat silage 60.6 38.9 5.5 9.1Barley silage 56.3 34.5 5.6 9.9Triticale silage 59.7 39.6 5.8 9.7Wheat silage 59.9 37.6 5.8 9.7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Nutrient Comparison (NRC, 2001)

%DM %CP %ADF %TDNCorn Silage 35 8.828.168.8Oatlage 35 12.938.956.8Haylage 39 20.037.056.6Oat Hay 92 9.136.455.9Hay 88 20.231.258.9

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Take Home Messages• Seed 3 bushels per acre in a “good” seed bed

• Plant a grain type, early season oat in mid August

• Harvest in the boot stage

• 2 to 3 tons of dry matter per acre with high levels of sugar possible

• Wilting of the silage may be needed (>30% DM)

• Add an inoculant to improve fermentation

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Check out our online dairy courses at http://online.ansci.illinois.edu/and Illini DairyNET at http://www.livestocktrail.illinois.edu/dairynet/

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Mike HutjensDairy Extension Specialist Jim Baltz

Instructional Design Specialist