do you use whole oats or steam rolled oats in your show ration?

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5PCC

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Jan 27, 2013
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190
Location
Northeast Missouri
We are switching from a bagged show feed to our own custom mix. We are mixing up a ton of feed. We have fed a custom mix before, but I wonder... Do you feed whole oats (I believe that this is the same thing as groats, but I am not 100% certain) or steam rolled oats in your custom ration? Which is the best to use? Thank you.
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
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3,207
Location
Texas
Steam rolled oats are much easier to get and more common than steam rolled corn.  Our rations use steam rolled oats and cracked corn.
 

Stickboy58

New member
Joined
Apr 13, 2018
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2
5PCC,

I know I'm about 4 years late to the party, but I just came across this and didn't want to see your question go unanswered.

Whole oats are oats that still have the hull on the outside (and groat inside)
Groats are oats that have been hulled (to remove the hull)
Steam crimped oats are whole oats that have been steamed, then rolled...with the hull still on
Steam rolled oats are groats that have been steamed, then rolled...no hull, and they look about the same as oatmeal you'd have for breakfast

It all depends on how you want to use them, as to what your best choice would be.

Whole oats may be good for cattle, if you want the added fiber (the hull is pretty much all fiber)
Groats are going to be difficult to come by, because few processors just hull oats and sell them as groats.  However, you can sometimes find them...they'll either be "green" (unprocessed, just hulled) or "steamed" (hulled and steamed, but no further processing).  Steaming breaks down the substance in the groats that would otherwise cause them to go rancid/spoil quicker.
Steam crimped oats may be good for cattle, but again, only if you want the added fiber.  They are generally not as good for calves, as they are harder to digest.
Steam rolled oats are excellent for cattle, especially calves, because you get all the protein and fat, but far less fiber...and they are superior for gut health and digestibility.

If you want to know more, just ask - I know a bit about oats, because I'm the Operations Manager for an oat processing plant in Minnesota.
 

cowman 52

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Jan 16, 2009
Messages
719
Location
San Angelo Texas
Whole oats will do ok to a point somewhere in the 800 lb range and then you will see some oats in the droppings.  If you have an old hammer mill, using a large screen and operating it at a reduced speed will knock the hulls off, its feed conversion is similar to oats and cotton seed hulls, and really good in oats with a light test weight.
 
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