Extending Feed Supplies: Oats, Peas, Potatoes, Reed Canary Grass, Rye, Sorghum & Sudan Grass, Straw, Sunflowers and Wheat.
Oats
Forage
Oats produce excellent pasture, hay, or silage. However, oat forages are prone to high nitrate levels, especially under stress.
Grain Nutrients (DM%)
- CP: 10%
- ADF: 15%
- TDN: 76%
- Ca: 0.07%
- P: 0.40%
Feeding Note:
Lower energy content than barley or wheat. Often mixed with higher‑energy grains to support dairy and growing/finishing rations.
Lower energy content than barley or wheat. Often mixed with higher‑energy grains to support dairy and growing/finishing rations.
Peas
Forage
Often grown with oats for hay, grazing, or silage.
Do not feed pea vines to sheep.
Do not feed pea vines to sheep.
Grain Nutrients (DM%)
- CP: 25%
- ADF: 9%
- TDN: 86%
- Ca: 0.19%
- P: 0.50%
Feeding Note:
Seed peas can serve as the sole protein supplement for cattle, sheep, and horses.
Seed peas can serve as the sole protein supplement for cattle, sheep, and horses.
Potatoes
A low‑DM, moderate‑energy feed useful for stretching grain supplies.
Nutrient Comparison (DM%)
Nutrient |
Potatoes |
Barley |
CP |
10% |
12% |
ADF |
5% |
7% |
TDN |
80% |
83% |
Feeding Considerations
- 400–450 lb potatoes ≈ 100 lb grain (22–25% grain value).
- Introduce gradually to improve palatability.
- Limit to avoid scours.
- Remove long sprouts (solanine toxicity).
- Chop or process to prevent choking.
- Potatoes can be ensiled; potato silage is similar to corn silage in feeding value.
Reed Canary Grass
Produces pasture or hay with:
- 15–17% CP
- 55–60% TDN
Use low‑alkaloid varieties (Rival, Venture, Vantage, Paladon) to avoid reduced intake.
Rye
Forage
Coarse and less palatable; may accumulate nitrates.
Ergot risk is reduced if cut at milk to early dough stage.
Ergot risk is reduced if cut at milk to early dough stage.
Straw
Very coarse; ~40% TDN, low feeding value.
Grain Nutrients (DM%)
- CP: 12%
- ADF: 6%
- TDN: 80%
- Ca: 0.07%
- P: 0.36%
Feeding Notes
- Monitor ergot levels.
- Can replace 25–50% of barley in dairy grain mixes without reducing production.
- Intake may decrease in calves or at >50% of the ration.
Sorghum & Sudan Grass
Harvesting
Best as silage due to high moisture and slow curing. Harvest at late dough stage for optimum quality.
Nutrient Ranges (DM%)
- Vegetative sorghum: 16–20% CP, 30–32% CF, 50–55% TDN
- Mature silage: 9–10% CP, 30–35% CF, 55–60% TDN
Feeding Risks
- Prussic acid poisoning risk is high in young growth, regrowth following frost, drought‑stressed plants, and sorghum–sudan hybrids.
- Safe grazing heights:
- Sudan grass: ≥45–50 cm (18–20")
- Sorghum–sudan: ≥75–100 cm (30–40")
- Avoid grazing after frost until plants dry or regrow to safe height.
- Ensiling reduces prussic acid and nitrate levels.
Straws
Ammoniated Straw (See Ammoniation to Improve Forage Quality)
Ammoniation increases CP (to 7–10%), intake, and digestibility.
Requires careful handling due to anhydrous ammonia hazards.
Requires careful handling due to anhydrous ammonia hazards.
Cereal Straws
Low in nutrients; used mainly for bulk.
- Oat & barley straw: 45–48% TDN
· Protein: ~4% CP
- Wheat straw: lowest value
Palatability Ranking
- Oat straw – most palatable
- Barley straw
- Wheat straw – least palatable
Risk of rumen compaction if fed without adequate supplementation.
Grass Seed Straws
Millet, timothy, meadow fescue straws: similar to cereal straws.
Legume Straws
Higher CP but similar fiber/energy to cereal straw. Use only as a portion of the roughage. More palatable than cereal straws.
Nutritional Characteristics
- Protein: 7–8% CP
- Energy: Similar TDN to cereal straws
- Minerals: Higher calcium and phosphorus than cereal straws
Although palatable once cattle adjust, soybean straw has extremely high fiber and is considered to have little to no feeding value.
Grass Straws - Tall Fescue & Perennial Ryegrass Straw, Millet Straw
Turf‑type varieties may contain high endophyte levels → toxicity risk, especially for pregnant mares.
Use forage‑type varieties and test before feeding.
Use forage‑type varieties and test before feeding.
Grass‑type straws (timothy, meadow fescue, etc.) are generally:
- More palatable than cereal straws
- Similar in nutritional value to cereal straws
Millet Straw
Millet straw is often the highest‑quality grass straw, typically containing:
- ~6% CP
- ~50% TDN
Oilseed Straws
Oilseed crop residues tend to be very low quality.
- Flax straw: little to no feed value
- Canola straw: typically poor, though some feed tests show better-than-expected values depending on environmental conditions and crop maturity
Because of high fiber and low digestibility, oilseed straws should be used cautiously and only as a small portion of the roughage ration.
Sunflowers
Silage
Harvest when 50–65% of plants are in bloom.
Silage has ~⅔ the feeding value of corn silage.
Optimal moisture: 65–70%.
Silage has ~⅔ the feeding value of corn silage.
Optimal moisture: 65–70%.
Seed Nutrients (DM%)
Nutrient |
Confectionary |
Oilseed |
CP |
24% |
20% |
Oil |
25% |
41% |
ADF |
27% |
15% |
TDN |
104% |
122% |
Feeding Note:
Limit intake to keep dietary fat <5% DM. Dairy cows typically receive 3–5 lb/day.
Limit intake to keep dietary fat <5% DM. Dairy cows typically receive 3–5 lb/day.
Wheat
Forage
Useful as hay, pasture, or silage; monitor for nitrates.
Wheat pasture increases bloat risk.
Wheat pasture increases bloat risk.
Grain Nutrients (DM%)
- CP: 13%
- ADF: 5%
- TDN: 88%
- Ca: 0.05%
- P: 0.45%
Feeding Notes
- Roll or coarsely grind to avoid gumminess.
- Limit to 30–40% of grain mix for dairy and feedlot ruminants.
- Can be fed as sole grain to beef cows, heifers, and dry cows if roughage is provided freely.
- Limits: 8–10 lb/day/cow, 5 lb/day/heifer